kerning (countable and uncountable, plural kernings)
(typography) The adjustment of the horizontal space between selected pairs of glyphs in a typeface.
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.
kerning
present participle of kern
Source: Wiktionary
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
25 June 2025
(noun) a state of being confined (usually for a short time); “his detention was politically motivated”; “the prisoner is on hold”; “he is in the custody of police”
The word “coffee” entered the English language in 1582 via the Dutch “koffie,” borrowed from the Ottoman Turkish “kahve,” borrowed in turn from the Arabic “qahwah.” The Arabic word qahwah was traditionally held to refer to a type of wine.
