A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1499-1699
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Kirnell, n.1 Also: kyrnell, -al, kernell. [North. and midl. ME. kirnel, later kernel and carnel, karnel, west. and south. curnel, OE. cyrnel.]
1. a. The kernel of a nut. Also transf. b. The stone of a fruit or berry.a. a1500 Henr. Fab. 16.
The nuttis schell, thocht it be hard and teuch Haldis the kirnell [v. r. kyrnal], and is delectabill 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 80/31.
Mitridates … bure ay apon hym tuenty leyuis of reu, tua kyrnellis of nutis, & tua feggistransf. c 1660–70 Select Biographies I. 265.
The sweet kirnell of the blessing under the sour slough that is withoutb. 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Æn. iii. 649.
Duri nuclei (kernell) instar lapidis 1595 Duncan App. Etym.
Acinus, the kirnell of a rasing or berrie
2. The kirnellis of the thie, the glands of the groin, the groin. 1598–9 Reg. Privy C. V. 539.
[He] straik the said Walter cruellie … in the kirnellis of his thie 16.. Hist. Kennedy 12.
James Crafurd … wes schott in the kirnellis of the thie, quhairoff he wes leyammitt16.. Hist. Kennedy 48.
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"Kirnell n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/kirnell_n_1>
