parch

Meanings

Verb

• To burn the surface of, to scorch.
• To roast, as dry grain.
• To dry to extremity; to shrivel with heat.
• To make very thirsty.
• To boil something slowly (Still used in Lancashire in parched peas, a type of mushy peas).
• To become superficially burnt; be become sunburned.

Noun

• The condition of being parched.

Origin

• From Middle English parchen, paarchen, of uncertain origin. Perhaps a variant of Middle English perchen.