Singe

Part of speech: noun (n.)

A burning of the surface; a slight burn.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

1. To burn slightly or superficially; to burn the surface of; to burn the ends or outside of; as, to singe the hair or the skin. You sulphurous and thought-executing fires, . . . Singe my white head! Shak. I singed the toes of an ape through a burning glass. L'Estrange.

2. To remove the nap of (cloth), by passing it rapidly over a red- hot bar, or over a flame, preliminary to dyeing it.

3. To remove the hair or down from (a plucked chicken or the like) by passing it over a flame.