† scorchn.1
Obsolete.
Rind, bark.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > part of plant > part of tree or woody plant > wood > [noun] > bark
rindeOE
barka1300
pillc1300
scorch1480
utter-bark1530
skin1558
shell1561
tree-bark1910
1480 W. Caxton tr. Ovid Metamorphoses x. viii The chylde, of whiche Mirra was grete, grewe, wt payne under the scorche & rynde.
1481 W. Caxton tr. Myrrour of Worlde ii. x. 90 Other trees there growe..that bere notemygges, And of the rynde and scorce is the canell or synamome.
1597 W. Langham Garden of Health 15 Make..Almond milke.., and eate it with Sugar, and powder of the ryndes and scorches of a Pomegranate.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1910; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
scorchn.2
/skɔːtʃ/, U.S. /skɔrtʃ/ 1.
a. A mark or impression produced by scorching; a superficial burn. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > injury > [noun] > burn or scald
scaldinga1398
fire burning?a1425
combustion?1541
burning1542
ambustion1590
burn1594
scald1601
ustion1607
scorch1611
powder burn1864
flash burn1946
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Maquereaux, red scorches, or spots on the legs of such as vse to sit neere the fire.
1872 T. L. Cuyler Heart Thoughts 38 The ugly scorch upon the commercial integrity of the merchant.
b. A scorched appearance of foliage, symptomatic of various plant diseases.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > disease or injury > [noun] > characterized by part affected or appearance produced
jaundice1600
black rot1769
root rot1831
leaf blight1849
leaf curl1850
black heart1862
icterus1866
albication1877
footrot1883
curl-leaf1886
silver top1890
stem-sickness1890
sleeping disease1899
mosaic1900
leaf mosaic1902
scorch1906
blotch1909
little leaf1911
ringspot1913
crinkle1920
vein banding1928
1906 Misc. Publ. Board Agric. & Fisheries Dis. Fruit 13 Cherry leaf-scorch. A disease which every now and then proves destructive to the cherry crop. The leaves are attacked by a minute fungus, which causes them to turn brown and die, often quite early in the season.
1926 Misc. Publ. Min. Agric. LII. 63 Leaf scorch (physiological) [of apple trees]... In Lancashire the trouble appeared largely to be due to lack of potash, which is a contributory factor in many cases.
1933 Discovery Nov. 350/1 Scorch, due to the fungus Kabatiella caulivora, a disease which has come into prominence in recent years, causes considerable destruction in pure stands of red clover.
1974 Nature 8 Feb. 338/1 An experimental pirimiphos-methyl formulation produced localised scorch on citrus fruit.
2.
a. Scorching effect (of the sun or fire).
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > heating or making hot > subjection or exposure to heat or fire > [noun] > exposure to injurious heat or fire > scorching
fryingc1290
searing1552
scorching1563
scorch1646
charring1802
grill1842
1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica vi. x. 330 Not onely their legitimate and timely births, but their abortions are also duskie, before they have felt the scortch and fervor of the Sun. View more context for this quotation
c1790 W. Cowper Wks. (1837) XV. 318 When he calls it a balm to heal the scar of these corrosive fires [Milton P.L. ii. 401], we almost feel the scorch, and the pleasure of the remedy.
1864 Lady Duff-Gordon in F. Galton Vacation Tourists & Trav. 1862–3 162 They said the thermometer was at about 130° where I was walking yesterday, but (barring the scorch) I could not have believed it.
b. figurative.
ΚΠ
1626 Bp. H. King Serm. Deliuerance 9 Which..shelters vs from the scorches of the last Iudgement.
1672 W. Penn Spirit of Truth Vindicated 52 Persecution comes, with the Scorch of which they are wont to singe and wrap up like a Scrole.
1859 I. Taylor Logic in Theol. 212 Profligate magnates quailed..whenever this scorch of eternal reason was sent in upon their conscience.
3. [ < scorch v.1 3] An act of ‘scorching’; a rapid run on a cycle or a motor car.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > cycling > [noun] > at a furious pace > instance of
scorch1885
1885 Cyclist 19 Aug. 1084/1 Another 24 hours scorch!
1890 Polytechnic Mag. 13 Mar. 161/1 An impromptu scorch was started by the members trying to keep behind a really fast cabby to obtain shelter from the wind.
Compounds
C1. attributive: as scorch-mark.
ΚΠ
1952 ‘M. Cost’ Hour Awaits 112 She would..wash this scorch-mark off her thumb.
1974 M. Birmingham You can help Me ii. 38 The whole landmark came down in spectacular flames. There is still rubble and scorch marks.
1978 R. Barnard Unruly Son viii. 83 If she has her eyes on someone, they show the scorch-marks pretty fast.
C2.
scorch-patch n. (see quot. 1897).
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > blemish > [noun] > other blemishes
trench1594
French crown1600
scorch-patch1897
tree-marking1900
corona-
1897 J. Hutchinson in Archives of Surg. I. 62 ‘Scorch-patches’ is, I think, the best descriptive epithet to apply to the brown patches which occur in the macular stage of leprosy.
scorch pencil n. a tool used in ‘poker-work’.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > ornamental art and craft > pokerwork > [noun] > tools
poker1827
pyrograph1883
scorch pencil1903
1903 Daily Mail 21 Aug. 9/2 The chief instrument used is a ‘scorch pencil’, so called because with it the required design is burnt upon the prepared wood surface that is to be decorated.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1910; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
scorchv.1
/skɔːtʃ/, U.S. /skɔrtʃ/ 1. absolute.1575 G. Gascoigne Noble Arte Venerie xliv. 138 They quenche the skaldyng fire, which skorched with his heate.absolute.1853 J. G. Whittier Chapel of Hermits & Other Poems 18 The fame that crowned him scorched and burned.
a. transitive. To heat to such a degree as to shrivel, parch, or dry up, or to char or discolour the surface; to burn superficially.
ΘΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > heating or making hot > subjection or exposure to heat or fire > subject or expose to heat or fire [verb (transitive)] > damage or injure by heat or fire > scorch
scorklec1374
bristle1483
scorch1511
birsle1513
sparch1532
scrimplea1572
bescorch1582
scorch1602
sizzle1603
fry1695
char1805
Phrygianize1836
swinge1844
14.. Chaucer's Boeth. ii. metre vi. (Add. MS.) (1868) 55 Alle þe poeples þat þe violent wynde Nothus scorchiþ [Camb. MS. scorklith; orig. has torret].
1430 J. Lydgate St. Margarete 415 This gemme of maydenhede Was brent with brondes..Hir sydes skorched.
?1473 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Recuyell Hist. Troye (1894) I. lf. 21 Whan the pelagyens sawe this dede man of whom the skyn was scorched the fflessh rosted the senewes shronken [etc.].
1511 Pylgrymage Richarde Guylforde (Pynson) f. vijv An hande with parte of the Arme of seynt Iohnn Baptyste some what scorcherde [sic] with the fyre as it was brente.
1553 R. Eden tr. S. Münster Treat. Newe India sig. Biiij The bodyes of men begin to waxe blacke and to be scorched.
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. cxviij They..wer after let downe into the fyre from on hyghe, and there synged & skorched.
1611 Bible (King James) Rev. xvi. 8 Power was giuen vnto him to scorch men with fire. View more context for this quotation
1637 J. Milton Comus 32 Summer drouth, or singed aire Never scorch thy tresses faire.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 141 'Twas Noon; the sultry Dog-star from the Sky Scorch'd Indian Swains, the rivell'd Grass was dry. View more context for this quotation
1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson ii. vi. 199 He did not awake till the fire came near enough to scorch him.
1764 T. Harmer Observ. Passages Script. i. §20. 45 He had many times his forehead so scorched as to swell exceedingly.
1781 W. Cowper Expostulation 15 Fiery suns, that scorch the russet spice Of eastern groves.
1813 P. B. Shelley Queen Mab vii. 85 His resolute eyes were scorched to blindness soon.
1830 M. Donovan Domest. Econ. I. i. 49 Her skeleton..remained entire in the chair, which was only a little scorched.
1882 ‘Ouida’ In Maremma I. 18 Much beaten about by sea-winds and scorched by poisonous suns.
b. figurative.
ΘΠ
society > authority > punishment > torture > [verb (transitive)]
bethrowOE
tintreghec1175
tormentc1290
pinse?c1335
anguisha1425
pincha1425
to put to (the) torture1551
agonize1570
torture1594
scorchc1595
flay1782
the mind > emotion > suffering > mental anguish or torment > cause of mental anguish or torment > cause anguish to or torment [verb (transitive)]
quelmeOE
eatc1000
martyrOE
fretc1175
woundc1175
to-fret?c1225
gnawc1230
to-traya1250
torment1297
renda1333
anguish1340
grindc1350
wringc1374
debreakc1384
ofpinec1390
rivea1400
urn1488
reboil1528
whip1530
cruciate1532
pinch1548
spur-galla1555
agonize1570
rack1576
cut1582
excruciate1590
scorchc1595
discruciate1596
butcher1597
split1597
torture1598
lacerate1600
harrow1603
hell1614
to eat upa1616
arrow1628
martyrize1652
percruciate1656
tear1666
crucify1702
flay1782
wrench1798
kill1800
to cut up1843
c1595 Countess of Pembroke Psalme lxxxix. 98 in Coll. Wks. (1998) II. 134 Scorcht with thy wrath is thy anointed one.
1627 R. Sanderson Ten Serm. 344 Take Truth without Mercy; as an hot poyson it scaldeth vs, and scortcheth vs in the flames of restlesse Despaire.
1702 M. Prior Song to Mistress 1 Whilst I am scorch'd with hot Desire.
1882 ‘M. Twain’ Prince & Pauper 225 An' I tell him this, he will scorch thee finely for it.
1884 ‘M. Twain’ Adventures Huckleberry Finn xvi. 123 It hadn't ever come home to me before, what this thing was that I was doing. But now it did; and it staid with me, and scorched me more and more.
1934 G. Ade Let. 22 June (1973) 183 To me he continues to be a revelation and a marvel although he would scorch anyone who tried to put either of those labels on him.
1965 M. Spark Mandelbaum Gate v. 122 Gardnor's hushed confidence continued to scorch Freddy's ear-drums.
c. with away, up.
ΘΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > heating or making hot > subjection or exposure to heat or fire > subject or expose to heat or fire [verb (transitive)] > damage or injure by heat or fire > scorch
scorklec1374
bristle1483
scorch1511
birsle1513
sparch1532
scrimplea1572
bescorch1582
scorch1602
sizzle1603
fry1695
char1805
Phrygianize1836
swinge1844
1602 W. Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor i. iii. 60 It seemed as she would a scorged me vp like a burning glasse.
a1691 R. Boyle Gen. Hist. Air (1692) 165 The weather being very dry and hot, the grass and other vegetables were scorched up.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics ii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 86 Whose Leaves are not alone foul Winter's Prey, But oft by Summer Suns are scorch'd away. View more context for this quotation
d. transferred. To shrivel up as if by heat.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > liquid > dryness > dry [verb (transitive)] > parch > with cold
parch1574
scorch1607
the world > plants > disease or injury > affect with disease or atmospheric conditions [verb (transitive)]
smut1626
snape1631
blight1695
houseburn1708
rust1759
spur1896
scorch1905
windrock1969
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 274 If a mans feete be scorched with cold, the powder of a Hares Wooll is a remedy for it.
1905 H. R. Haggard Gardener's Year Oct. 333 Even the hardy Sea-Buckthorns..have been sadly scorched by the spray brought up in the recent gales.
e. intransitive for reflexive.Quot. c1430 may belong to scorch v.2; the form in any case is irregular, and may be due to misreading.
ΘΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > heating or making hot > subjection or exposure to heat or fire > be subjected or exposed to heat or fire [verb (intransitive)] > suffer damage or injury by heat or fire > be scorched
scorkenc1175
snarchea1200
scorchc1430
brass1481
scald1513
bristle1788
grill1842
c1430 Two Cookery Bks. 42 With a lytil Watere, late hem seþe til þey ben drye, & þat þey schorge.
1896 A. Austin England's Darling i. iii. 19 And then together we will watch the cakes, Nor let them scorch.
f. transitive. Esp. in to scorch the earth, to subject (an area) to a scorched earth policy (see scorched adj.1 1b). Also transferred.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military operations > [verb (transitive)] > other operations
soften1940
to scorch the earth1941
1941 H. G. Wells You can't be too Careful v. ii. 245 The Russians, falling back slowly upon their main line of defence, ‘scorching the earth’ before this last convulsive thrust of the Nazi.
1943 Ann. Reg. 1942 i. 193 Enormous quantities of petrol, which could not be made available until the Russian oil wells, also ‘scorched’, produced again.
1944 Return to Attack (Army Board, N.Z.) 9/2 There were neither women nor children, neither villages nor farms to be destroyed. Long ago nature had scorched the earth.
1945 Yorks. Post 19 Apr. 1/1 The Germans are scorching towns in the way of the great armoured thrusts now threatening Hamburg.
ΘΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > burn or consume by fire [verb (transitive)]
burna1000
forburnOE
forswealc1000
swealc1000
to burn upc1175
forswithea1250
to-brenna1300
singea1400
scorchc1475
combust1483
combure1570
toast1577
flame1582
embroil1667
flagrate1756
underburn1841
c1475 Partenay 3412 Ther o soule man escapid noght, But scorched and brend were to Askes small.
1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis i. 2 As thogh that Pallas could not bee fullye reuenged, Thee Greekfleete scorching.
1625 T. Middleton Game at Chæss ii. i. D 1 Here (wench) take these papers, Scorch 'em me soundly; burne 'em to French-russet.
3. intransitive. To cycle or motor at high speed. Also in extended use, and with away, up. [Compare French brûler le pavé, lit. ‘to burn the pavement’, said of a furious driver.]
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > rate of motion > swiftness > move swiftly [verb (intransitive)] > very
lighten1611
flash1822
rip1858
rocket1862
scorch1891
volt1930
society > travel > transport > cycling > cycle [verb (intransitive)] > cycle at furious pace
scorch1891
spin1978
1891 Wheeling 25 Feb. 405 Be wise in time, and do not ‘scorch’ while you are out of condition.
1898 T. C. Allbutt et al. Syst. Med. V. 852 The father..with his nervous system corroded by drudgery and care is determined to scorch on his bicycle or to climb the Alps with any of them.
1906 E. Œ. Somerville & ‘M. Ross’ Some Irish Yesterdays 150 The priest who was to have performed the Funeral Office scorched up on his bicycle, scarlet-faced, and half an hour late.
1957 A. C. Clarke Deep Range iv. 48 By keeping the torp tail-heavy and nose-up he was able to scorch along on the surface like a speed-boat.
1972 Shooting Times & Country Mag. 27 Mar. 22/2 The favourite scorched away to win by four lengths.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1910; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
† scorchv.2
Obsolete. (Only in translations from French.)
transitive. To strip off (skin or bark), to flay. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > covering > uncovering > uncover or remove covering from [verb (transitive)] > strip or make bare > strip of skin
flaya800
beflaya1000
hilda1000
scorchc1430
escorse1546
skin1566
case1575
uncase1575
unskin1598
blank?c1600
excoriate1614
deglubate1623
hide1757
flipe1892
c1430 Pilgr. Lyf Manhode (1869) i. xx. 15 Shere yow youre shepherde may at his neede but to skorche yow is not yiue him leeue.
c1430 Pilgr. Lyf Manhode (1869) iii. xvi. 143 Whan the poore ben skorched thus and to pulled and that alle here goodes ben thus shaken and drawen out and arased.
a1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 6 Her fader..made cast her in-to the Riuer, and drenche her and her childe, And made to scorch [Fr. escorchier] the knight quicke.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1910; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
† scorchv.3
Obsolete.
transitive. To slash with a knife.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > cutting > cut [verb (transitive)]
snithec725
carvec1000
cutc1275
slitc1275
hag1294
ritc1300
chop1362
slash1382
cut and carvea1398
flash?a1400
flish?a1400
slenda1400
race?a1425
raise?a1425
razea1425
scotch?c1425
ochec1440
slitec1450
ranch?a1525
scorchc1550
scalp1552
mincea1560
rash?1565
beslash1581
fent1589
engrave1590
nick1592
snip1593
carbonado1596
rescide1598
skice1600
entail1601
chip1609
wriggle1612
insecate1623
carbonate1629
carbonade1634
insecta1652
flick1676
sneg1718
snick1728
slot1747
sneck1817
tame1847
bite-
c1550 H. Rhodes Bk. Nurture B ij Afore dyner nor after, with thy knyfe scorche [1577 scortche] not the borde.
1597 J. Payne Royall Exchange 23 Baulls preists..skorched there fleshe to the bones with there knyves.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) iii. ii. 15 We haue scorch'd the Snake, not kill'd it. View more context for this quotation
1656 A. Cowley Misc. 33 in Poems The Living and the Killing Arrow..broke the Bones, and scortcht the Marrow.
1823 W. Scott Quentin Durward I. i. 1 The members of the league..[like] a scotched snake might re-unite.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1910; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
<
n.11480
n.21611
v.114..v.2c1430v.3c1550