kernal

from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)

kernel
kernal

   (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. <language> 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)