Part 502

Ke"rite (?), n. [Gr. ke`ras, horn.] A compound in which tar or asphaltum combined with animal or vegetable oils is vulcanized by sulphur, the product closely resembling rubber; -- used principally as an insulating material in telegraphy. Knight.

Kerl (?), n. See Carl.

Ker"mes (?), n. [Ar. & Per. girmiz. See Crimson, and cf. Alkermes.] 1. (Zoöl.) The dried bodies of the females of a scale insect (Coccus ilicis), allied to the cochineal insect, and found on several species of oak near the Mediterranean. They are round, about the size of a pea, contain coloring matter analogous to carmine, and are used in dyeing. They were anciently thought to be of a vegetable nature, and were used in medicine. [Written also chermes.]

2. (Bot.) A small European evergreen oak (Quercus coccifera) on which the kermes insect (Coccus ilicis) feeds. J. Smith (Dict. Econ. Plants).

Kermes mineral. (a) (Old Chem.) An artificial amorphous trisulphide of antimony; -- so called on account of its red color. (b) (Med. Chem.) A compound of the trioxide and trisulphide of antimony, used in medicine. This substance occurs in nature as the mineral kermesite.

Ker"messe (?), n. [F.] See Kirmess.

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, n. (Type Founding) 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) To form with a kern. See 2d Kern.

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

Kern, n. [AS. cweorn, cwyrn. See Quern. ] A hand mill. See Quern. Johnson.

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.

Kerned (?), a. (Print.) Having part of the face projecting beyond the body or shank; -- said of type. "In Roman, f and j are the only kerned letters." MacKellar.

Ker"nel (?), n. [OE. kernel, kirnel, curnel, AS. cyrnel, fr. corn grain. See Corn, and cf. Kern to harden.] 1. The essential part of a seed; all that is within the seed walls; the edible substance contained in the shell of a nut; hence, anything included in a shell, husk, or integument; as, the kernel of a nut. See Illust. of Endocarp.

' A were as good crack a fusty nut with no kernel

Shak.

2. A single seed or grain; as, a kernel of corn.

3. A small mass around which other matter is concreted; a nucleus; a concretion or hard lump in the flesh.

4. The central, substantial or essential part of anything; the gist; the core; as, the kernel of an argument.

Ker"nel, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Kerneled (?) or Kernelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Kerneling or Kernelling.] To harden or ripen into kernels; to produce kernels.

{ Ker"neled, Ker"nelled (?) }, a. Having a kernel.