Category:Parch

Parch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Parched; p. pr. & vb. n. Parching.] Etym: [oe. perchen to pierce, hence used of a piercing heat or cold, of. Perchier, another form of percier, f. percer. See pierce.]

1. To burn the surface of; to scorch; to roast over the fire, as dry Grain; as, to parch the skin; to parch corn. Ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn. Lev. xxiii. 14.

2. To dry to extremity; to shrivel with heat; as, the mouth is Parched from fever. The ground below is parched. Dryden.

Parch Parch, v. i.

Defn: to become scorched or superficially burnt; to be very dry. "parch in afric sun." Shak.