- OE. scorchen, probably akin to scorcnen; cf. Norw. skrokken shrunk up, skrekkaskrökka, 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
- 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.Summer drouth or singèd air Never scorch thy tresses fair.
- 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.
- To burn; to destroy by, or as by, fire.Power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.The fire that scorches me to death.
