[IMGate] FreeBSD 4.7 what is /a.out?

[Gerry Massat]

Couldn't find an answer on FreeBSD.org or with Google, what is the file:
/a.out and do I need to keep it?
It happens to be the same size as /kernel and /kernel.GENERIC, but different
date.
Also, I can see where /kernel is invoked during the boot, but do I also need
/kernel.GENERIC?

Thanks!
Gerry