Parch (pärch), 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.