A kernel is the soft, edible part inside a seed, nut, or grain. It can also mean the central or most important part of an idea or thing.
From Old English “cyrnel”, a diminutive of “corn” meaning “grain” or “seed”. It originally referred to a small grain, then to the inner part of a seed.
In computing, the “kernel” is the core part of an operating system that controls everything else, just like the edible core of a seed feeds new life. The same tiny-sounding word is used for both snacks and the heart of your computer’s brain. It’s a neat example of how metaphor powers technical language.
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