KERNING
Etymology
Noun
kerning (countable and uncountable, plural kernings)
(typography) The adjustment of the horizontal space between selected pairs of glyphs in a typeface.
Usage notes
Kerning and tracking are sometimes confused; the latter refers to the uniform adjustment of letterspacing for a whole unit of text, while kerning relates to the spacing between two individual glyphs.
Verb
kerning
present participle of kern
Source: Wiktionary
KERN
Kern, n. Etym: [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.
Now for our Irish wars; We must supplant those rough, rug-headed
kerns. Shak.
2. Any kind of boor or low-lived person. [Obs.] Blount.
3. (O. Eng. Law)
Definition: An idler; a vagabond. Wharton.
Kern, n. (Type Founding)
Definition: A part of the face of a type which projects beyond the body, or
shank.
Kern, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Kerned; p. pr. & vb. n. Kerning. ] (Type
Founding)
Definition: To form with a kern. See 2d Kern.
Kern, n. Etym: [See Churn. ]
Definition: A churn. [Prov. Eng.]
Kern, n. Etym: [AS. cweorn, cwyrn. See Quern. ]
Definition: A hand mill. See Quern. Johnson.
Kern, v. i. Etym: [Cf. G. kern kernel, grain; akin to E. corn. See
Corn, Kernel. ]
1. To harden, as corn in ripening. [Obs.] Carew.
2. To take the form of kernels; to granulate. [Obs.]
It is observed that rain makes the salt kern. Dampier.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition