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kerfuffle
Kerguelen Islands
Kermadec Islands
Kerman
kermes
kermes oak
kermis
Kermode bear
kern (1)
kern (2)
kerne
kernel
kernel spots
kerning
kernite
kernmantel rope
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kern (1)

kern [ kurn ]


noun  (plural kerns)
Definition:
 
part of character: the part of a typographical character that projects beyond its body



verb  (past and past participle kerned, present participle kern·ing, 3rd person present singular kerns)
Definition:
 
1. transitive and intransitive verb bring printing type together: to eliminate white space between adjacent printed letters that may appear too widely separated on a line

2. transitive verb overlap adjacent characters: to join adjacent printed characters, or make them overlap

[Late 17th century. Via French carne "corner" < Latin cardin- "hinge"]
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