singe (v.) Look up singe at Dictionary.com
Old English sengan "to burn lightly, burn the edges" (of hair, wings, etc.), from Proto-Germanic *sangjanan (cf. Old Frisian of-sendza, Middle Dutch singhen, Dutch zengen, German sengen "to singe"). The root often is said to be related to that of sing, on the idea of some sort of sound produced by singeing. Related: Singed; singeing.