Definition: kernel

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Source: WordNet (r) 1.7 

kernel
     n 1: the inner and usually edible part of a seed or grain or nut
          or fruit stone: "black walnut kernels are difficult to
          get out of the shell" [syn: meat]
     2: a single whole grain of a cereal: "a kernel of corn"
     3: the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some
        idea or experience: "the gist of the prosecutor's
        argument"; "the heart and soul of the Republican Party";
        "the nub of the story" [syn: substance, core, center,
         essence, gist, heart, heart and soul, inwardness,
         marrow, meat, nub, pith, sum, nitty-gritty]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) 

Kernel \Ker"nel\, n. [OE. kernel, kirnel, curnel, AS. cyrnel,
   fr. corn grain. See Corn, and cf. Kern to harden.]
   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. Kerneledor Kernelled;
   p. pr. & vb. n. Kerneling or Kernelling.]
   To harden or ripen into kernels; to produce kernels.

Source: The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (2003-OCT-10) 

kernel

   (Note: NOT "kernal").

   1. <operating system> The essential part of Unix or other
   operating systems, responsible for resource allocation,
   low-level hardware interfaces, security etc.  See also
   microkernel.

   2.  An essential subset of a programming language,
   in terms of which other constructs are (or could be) defined.
   Also known as a core language.

   (1996-06-07)