Singe v. t. [imp. & p. p. Singed p. pr. & vb. n. Singeing ]
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. (a) To remove the nap of (cloth), by passing it rapidly over a red-hot bar, or over a flame, preliminary to dyeing it. (b) To remove the hair or down from (a plucked chicken or the like) by passing it over a flame.