Obs. exc. Hist. Also 5 Sc. kyr-. [a. ONF. kerneler, variant of carneler, creneler (mod.F. créneler), f. kernel, crenel KERNEL sb.2] trans. To furnish with embrasures or battlements; to crenellate. (Cf. next.)
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. V. 597. Alle þe wallis ben of witte … And kerneled with crystendome.
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., II. i. 109. And kyrnalit it perfytly.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit., I. 753. Licence to fortifie and Kernel his mansion house, that is, to embatle it.
1747. Carte, Hist. Eng., I. 688. It is evident … that no body could erect a castle or kernel a house, that is, fortify it with battlements, without a license from the king.
1796. Pegge, Anonym., IX. xxxv. (1809), 410. The manor-houses … are called … castles in case they had the privilege of being kernelled.
Hence Kernelled ppl. a.
1706. Phillips, Kernelled Walls, Walls built with Cranies or Notches, for the better Conveniency of shooting.
1789. Brand, Hist. Newcastle, I. 172. The Keep, or Great Tower … had, no doubt, a kernelled battlement.
