singe
A burning of the surface; a slight burn.
Noun
- A burning of the surface; a slight burn.
Origin
From Middle English sengen, from Old English senġan, sænċġan (“to singe, burn slightly, scorch, afflict”), from Proto-West Germanic *sangijan (“to burn, torch”), from Proto-Indo-European *senk- (“to burn”). Cognate with West Frisian singe, sinzje (“to singe”), Saterland Frisian soange (“to singe”), Dutch zengen (“to singe, scorch”), German Low German sengen (“to singe”), German sengen (“to singe, scorch”), Icelandic sangur (“singed, burnt, scorched”).
Forms
Verb Entry 2
- To burn slightly.
- made combustible by Flame They treat of, we have pretty Game, For they their own Tail Singe, to save Us - 1702, Sir Roger L’Estrange, “The First Viſion of the Algouazil (or Catchpole) Poſſest”, in The Viſions of Dom...
- To remove the nap of (cloth), by passing it rapidly over a red-hot bar, or over a flame, preliminary to dyeing it.
- To remove the hair or down from (a plucked chicken, etc.) by passing it over a flame.
Forms
Synonyms
Derived
Verb alt of, obsolete
- Obsolete form of sing.
- Then ſange Iudith this ſonge vnto the LORDE: Begynne vnto the LORDE vpon the tabrettes, ſinge vnto the LORDE vpon the cymbals. - 1535 October 14 (Gregorian calendar), Myles Coverdale, transl., Biblia: The Byble, […]...
- Lo I the man, whoſe Muſe whilome did maske, / As time her taught in lowly Sheapards weeds, / Am now enforſt a far unfitter taske, / For trumpets ſterne to change mine oaten reeds, / And ſinge of Knights and Ladies...
- [H]ere’s a couple of Syrenicall raſcals ſhall inchaunt yee: What ſhall they ſinge my good Lorde? - c. 1603 (date written), Iohn Marston, The Malcontent, London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] for William Aspley, […],...