Parch (?), 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.
Ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn.
Lev. xxiii. 14.
2.
To dry to extremity; to shrivel with heat; as, the mouth is parched from fever.
The ground below is parched.
Dryden.
© Webster 1913.
Parch, v. i.
To become scorched or superficially burnt; to be very dry.
"
Parch in Afric sun."
Shak.
© Webster 1913.