noun

1. a grain or seed, as of corn, wheat, etc.
2. the inner, softer part of a nut, fruit pit, etc.
3. the central, most important part of something; core; essence

Etymology: ME < OE cyrnel < base of corn, seed (see corn) + -el, dim. suffix

transitive verb kerneled -·neled or kernelled -·nelled, kerneling -·neling or kernelling -·nel·ling