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.
KERNEL
Ker"nel, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Kerneled or Kernelled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Kerneling or Kernelling.]
Defn: To harden or ripen into kernels; to produce kernels.
KERNELED; KERNELLED
Ker"neled, Ker"nelled, a.
Defn: Having a kernel.
KERNELLY
Ker"nel*ly, a.
Defn: Full of kernels; resembling kernels; of the nature of kernels.
Holland.