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. ]