What is the "kernel"? We have thrown the term around quite a bit, but we haven't really dug into what it is and what it means, and why is it called that? The term doesn't derive from "colonel", a rank in the military, instead, it refers to fruits and nuts. In the practical world, the kernel is the softer, usually edible part of a nut, or seed and is contained within its hard shell. When talking about smartphones, tablets, and even computers, the kernel isn't that much different... though I wouldn't recommend you eat it. Think of it like popcorn. If you try to eat a popcorn kernel without ...