Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Kern \Kern\, 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.

            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) An idler; a vagabond. --Wharton.

Kern \Kern\, n. (Type Founding)
   A part of the face of a type which projects beyond the body,
   or shank.

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

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

Kern \Kern\, n. [See {Churn}. ]
   A churn. [Prov. Eng.]

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.

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

            It is observed that rain makes the salt kern.
                                                  --Dampier.

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.

   2. The last handful or sheaf reaped at the harvest.

   3. The harvest-home.

Source : WordNet®

Kern
     n : United States composer of musical comedies (1885-1945) [syn:
          {Jerome Kern}, {Jerome David Kern}]