Parching

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Parch \Parch\ (p[aum]rch), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Parched}; p. pr.
     & vb. n. {Parching}.] [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.


        [1913 Webster]
  
              Ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn. --Lev.
                                                    xxiii. 14.
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     2. To dry to extremity; to shrivel with heat; as, the mouth
        is parched from fever.
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              The ground below is parched.          --Dryden.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  parching \parch"ing\ (p[aum]rch"[i^]ng), a.
     Scorching; burning; drying. "Summer's parching heat." --Shak.
     -- {Parch"ing*ly}, adv.
     [1913 Webster]