Kenning

Quick meaning: Kenning is a noun meaning As little as one can discriminate or recognize; a small portion, a little.

Meaning

As little as one can discriminate or recognize; a small portion, a little.

More Meanings

1. present participle and gerund of ken.
2. (zoology, obsolete, rare) A chalaza or tread of an egg (a spiral band attaching the yolk of the egg to the eggshell); a cicatricula.
3. (Northern England) A dry measure equivalent to half a bushel; a container with that capacity.
4. (poetry) A metaphorical compound or phrase, used especially in Germanic poetry (Old English or Old Norse) whereby a simple thing is described in an allusive way.
5. (obsolete) Sight, view; specifically a distant view at sea.
6. (obsolete) The range or extent of vision, especially at sea; (by extension) a marine measure of approximately twenty miles.

Example Sentences

put in a kenning of salt

Scylley is a Kenning, that is to ſay about an xx. Miles from the very Weſteſte Point of Cornewaulle.

His father was none so ill a man, though a kenning on the wrong side of the law, and no friend to my family, that I should waste my breath to be defending him!

"Saul of my pody, put you are wrang there, my friend," answered Robin, with composure; "it is your fat Englishmen that eat up our Scots cattle, puir things." / "I wish there was a summat to eat up their drovers," said another; "a plain Englishman canna make bread without a kenning of them."

Word Forms

• kennings

Synonyms for kenning

Depending on context, synonyms include ken.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include vision, sight, object, view, viewscape, eyesight.

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