Talk:parch

Etymology
'Parch' has been given various empirical etymologies in the past, such as Norman French PARCHIER < Old French 'percer', (to pierce)[2] as though from heat; and from the origin of PARCHment[3], due to it being dry. I cannot accept these, as they are not sufficiently sound. PARCH first appeared in English in the 14th century as PERCHE, PERCHED p.p. of PERCHEN (to roast)[8]. Compare obsolete French PARSEICHER[2].(O.E.D.); but this does not answer to the 14th century form and is therefore almost irrelevant! The only other possible analogy I have seen is PERKIN or PARKIN (cookie or gingerbread)[6]; but that also could have been from a personal surname[2]. A number of English words have been retained in speech until they were first recorded. I prefer to state a known named language as an origin, rather than an unattested language. 10:35, 14 August 2015 (UTC)

[0] means 'Absolutely not; [1] means 'Exceedingly unlikely'; [2] means 'Very dubious'; [3] means 'Questionable'; [4] means 'Possible'; [5] means 'Probable'; [6] means 'Likely'; [7] means 'Most Likely' or *Unattested; [8] means 'Attested'; [9] means 'Obvious' - only used for close matches within the same language or dialect, at linkable periods.

Andrew H. Gray 21:35, 4 November 2015 (UTC) Andrew (talk)

RFV discussion: October–November 2020
Rfv-sense verb sense 4, 'to make thirsty'

The quoted example is compatible with use as an adjective 'parched', and most example sentences using 'to parch' as a verb meaning 'to make thirsty' seem ungrammatical to my ear. I suspect this sense is dated/archaic/etc., or outright was never a valid sense of the verb. --PDVk (talk) 20:14, 12 October 2020 (UTC)

cited Kiwima (talk) 22:06, 2 November 2020 (UTC)

RFV-passed Kiwima (talk) 19:26, 12 November 2020 (UTC)