Printing. [f. KERN sb.3] trans. To furnish (a type) with a kern; to make a kern on. Hence Kerner, a workman who makes or adjusts kerned type.
1683. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., Printing, xix. ¶ 5. Amongst the Italick-Letters many are to be Kern’d, some only on one side, and some both sides. The Kern’d-Letters are such as have part of their Face hanging over one side or both sides of their Shanck. Ibid., xiii. ¶ 4. They … left the Letter-Kerner, after the Letter was Cast, to Kern away the Sholdering.
1824. J. Johnson, Typogr., II. 23. Some founders have been more liberal than others in kerning letters.
1865. Standard, Police News (May) [A witness described himself as a kerner in Messrs…’s letter foundry].
