A kernel holder is a device used to store and protect the edible seeds of a plant, such as corn or wheat. The term is composed of three words: NUTSHELL (8 letters), EAR (3 letters), and COB (3 letters). A NUTSHELL is the hard outer shell of a nut, while an EAR is the part of a plant that contains the seeds, and a COB is the central core of an EAR of corn. Together, these three words form the term kernel holder, which is used to refer to a device that stores and protects the edible seeds of a plant.