scorch

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Scorched p. pr. & vb. n. Scorching. ] [ OE. scorchen, probably akin to scorcnen; cf. Norw. skrokken shrunk up, skrekka, skrökka, to shrink, to become wrinkled up, dial. Sw. skråkkla to wrinkle (see Shrug); but perhaps influenced by OF. escorchier to strip the bark from, to flay, to skin, F. écorcher, LL. excorticare; L. ex from + cortex, -icis, bark (cf. Cork); because the skin falls off when scorched. ] 1. To burn superficially; to parch, or shrivel, the surface of, by heat; to subject to so much heat as changes color and texture without consuming; as, to scorch linen. [ 1913 Webster ]

Summer drouth or singèd air
Never scorch thy tresses fair. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To affect painfully with heat, or as with heat; to dry up with heat; to affect as by heat. [ 1913 Webster ]

Lashed by mad rage, and scorched by brutal fires. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To burn; to destroy by, or as by, fire. [ 1913 Webster ]

Power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. Rev. xvi. 8. [ 1913 Webster ]

The fire that scorches me to death. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]