Parch

v. t. [imp. & p. p. PARCHED (pärcht); p. pr. & vb. n. PARCHING.] [Perhaps contracted from peraresce, from Lat. perarescere, to grow very dry; but cf. also Russ. paríti, to scorch.]

1. To burn the surface of; to scorch; as, to parch the skin; to parch corn.
2. To dry to extremity; to shrivel with heat.

The ground below is parched. Dryden.