kern

v. to change the small space between two letters so they look better together.

v. to adjust the horizontal space between specific pairs of characters to achieve a visually pleasing result.

“You should kern the 'A' and 'V' more closely so the word looks balanced.”

“The graphic designer spent hours learning how to kern the display typeface to ensure the headline appeared seamless at large scales.”

Technical

n. the part of a printed letter that sticks out into the space of the next letter.

n. the portion of a character's shape that extends beyond its side bearings into the space of an adjacent character.

“In old metal type, the kern of the 'f' often hung over the next letter.”

“The italic 'f' is a classic example of a character with a significant kern that requires careful physical handling in letterpress printing.”

Technical

n. a lightly armed soldier from ancient Ireland or Scotland.

n. a light-armed foot soldier in the medieval or early modern militias of Ireland and the Scottish Highlands.

“The old stories describe a brave kern fighting in the mountains.”

“Shakespeare's Macbeth mentions the 'kerns and gallowglasses' that arrived from the Western Isles to join the rebellion.”

Archaic · Literary

n. a word used in some dialects for a grain of corn or a harvest celebration.

n. a dialectal term for a kernel of grain or the final sheaf reaped at harvest, often associated with traditional festivals.

“The farmers gathered for the kern-supper after the last of the wheat was cut.”

“Local folklore dictates that the kern-baby be fashioned from the last handful of grain to ensure a prosperous season next year.”

Dialect · Archaic