The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Kern \Kern\ (k[~e]rn), n. [Ir. ceatharnach.Cf. Cateran. ]
   1. A light-armed foot soldier of the ancient militia of
      Ireland and Scotland; -- distinguished from gallowglass,
      and often used as a term of contempt. --Macaulay.
      [1913 Webster]

            Now for our Irish wars;
            We must supplant those rough, rug-headed kerns.
                                                  --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Any kind of boor or low-lived person. [Obs.] --Blount.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. (O. Eng. Law) An idler; a vagabond. --Wharton.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Kern \Kern\, n. (Type Founding)
   A part of the face of a type which projects beyond the body,
   or shank, such as in certain italic letters.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Kern \Kern\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Kerned; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Kerning. ] (Type Founding)
   To form with a kern. See 2d Kern.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Kern \Kern\, n. [See Churn. ]
   A churn. [Prov. Eng.]
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Kern \Kern\, n. [AS. cweorn, cwyrn. See Quern. ]
   A hand mill. See Quern. --Johnson.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Kern \Kern\, v. i. [Cf. G. kern kernel, grain; akin to E. corn.
   See Corn, Kernel. ]
   1. To harden, as corn in ripening. [Obs.] --Carew.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To take the form of kernels; to granulate. [Obs.]
      [1913 Webster]

            It is observed that rain makes the salt kern.
                                                  --Dampier.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Kern \Kern\, n. [Written also kirn.] [Cf. D. & G. kern kernal,
   E. kern to harden, kernel.] [Obs. or Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
   1. Kernel; corn; grain.
      [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

   2. The last handful or sheaf reaped at the harvest.
      [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

   3. The harvest-home.
      [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

Kern
    n 1: United States composer of musical comedies (1885-1945)
         [syn: Kern, Jerome Kern, Jerome David Kern]
    2: the part of a metal typeface that projects beyond its body
    v 1: furnish with a kern [ant: kern]
    2: remove a portion of space between (adjacent letters) [ant:
       kern]

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (30 December 2018):

kerning
kern

    In typography, the process of adjusting the spacing
   between certain pairs of characters to improve the appearance of
   the text.  Roughly speaking, this can be thought of as equalising
   the area of space between adjacent characters.  Each character
   of a proportional font has a width that includes some space on
   either side so that adjacent letters don't touch.  Some pairs of
   characters such as A and V, look better if the spaces overlap
   slightly, bringing the characters closer together (but still not
   touching).  In most cases, kerning reduces the spacing ("negative
   kerning") but some pairs like "r" and "y" look better with extra
   space ("positive kerning").

   See also tracking, leading.

   (2014-01-14)


U.S. Gazetteer Counties (2000):

Kern -- U.S. County in California
   Population (2000):    661645
   Housing Units (2000): 231564
   Land area (2000):     8140.964496 sq. miles (21085.000353 sq. km)
   Water area (2000):    20.456042 sq. miles (52.980904 sq. km)
   Total area (2000):    8161.420538 sq. miles (21137.981257 sq. km)
   Located within:       California (CA), FIPS 06
   Location:             35.296023 N, 118.683344 W
   Headwords:
    Kern
    Kern, CA
    Kern County
    Kern County, CA