rare. [A word of late appearance: related to KERN v.1 and KERNEL. Cf. MDu. kern(e, (Du. kern), OHG. cherno (MHG. kerne, G. kern), ON. kjarni (Da. kærne, Sw. kärna) kernel, pip, etc.; but it may repr. an OE. *cyrne; cf. Norw. kyrne grain, and see CURN sb.]
† 1. Kernel (of a nut). Obs.
1570. Levins, Manip., 81/39. Kerne of a nut, nucleus.
2. A grain (of wheat, sand, etc.). Hence Kernstone, ? coarse-grained sandstone; or perh. oolite.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., s.v. Kern-stone, The little grains of sand are still visible in all parts of this stone, and are what induced the people to call it kern stone, as they call these kerns, or kernels.
1867. Rock, Jim an’ Nell, cxiii. With that Jones hullèd out a kern.
1880. Blackmore, Mary Anerley, I. 57. Grained with kerns of maxim’d thought.
