Scōrch, v. t.

v. t. [imp. & p. p. SCORCHED (scōrcht); p. pr. & vb. n. SCORCHING.] [O. Fr. escorcher, escorcer, to bark, to strip the bark from, to flay, to skin, N. Fr. écorcer and écorcher, It. scorticare, Pr. escorgar, Sp. & Pg. escorchar, L. Lat. excorticare, from Lat. ex, from, and cortex, corticis, bark; because the skin, which is, as it were, the bark of the body, falls off when scorched.] 1. To burn superficially; to parch, or shrivel by heat, the surface of; to subject to so much heat as changes color and texture without consuming; as, to scorch linen. Summer drouth or singeing air Never scorch thy tresses fair. Milton. 2. To affect painfully with heat, or as with heat; to dry up with heat; to affect as by heat. “Lashed by mad rage, and scorched by brutal fires.” Prior.