[ noun ] conventional metaphoric name for something, used especially in Old English and Old Norse poetry <noun.communication>
Ken \Ken\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Kenned} (k[e^]nd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Kenning}.] [OE. kennen to teach, make known, know, AS. cennan to make known, proclaim, or rather from the related Icel. kenna to know; akin to D. & G. kennen to know, Goth. kannjan to make known; orig., a causative corresponding to AS. cunnan to know, Goth. kunnan. [root]45. See {Can} to be able, {Know}.] 1. To know; to understand; to take cognizance of. [Archaic or Scot.]
2. To recognize; to descry; to discern. [Archaic or Scot.] ``We ken them from afar.'' --Addison
'T is he. I ken the manner of his gait. --Shak.
Kenning \Ken"ning\, n. [See {Ken}, v. t.] 1. Range of sight. [Obs.] --Bacon.
2. The limit of vision at sea, being a distance of about twenty miles.