kern Hear it!

kern1 definition

kern (kʉrn)

noun

that part of the face of a printed character which projects beyond the body

Etymology: Fr carne, projecting angle, hinge < dial. form of OFr charne, a hinge, corner, edge < L cardo (gen. cardinis), a hinge: see cardinal

transitive verb

to put a kern on (a printed character)
kern2 definition

kern or kerne (kʉrn)

noun

  1. Archaic a medieval Irish or Scottish foot soldier armed with light weapons
  2. an Irish peasant

Etymology: ME kerne < OIr ceitern, band of soldiers, soldier; akin to Gael ceathairne, common people

Kern definition

Kern (kʉrn)

Kern, Jerome (David) 1885-1945; U.S. composer

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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