The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Singe \Singe\ (s[i^]nj), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Singed
   (s[i^]njd); p. pr. & vb. n. Singeing (s[i^]nj"[i^]ng).]
   [OE. sengen, AS. sengan in besengan (akin to D. zengen, G.
   sengen), originally, to cause to sing, fr. AS. singan to
   sing, in allusion to the singing or hissing sound often
   produced when a substance is singed, or slightly burned. See
   Sing.]
   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.
      [1913 Webster]

            You sulphurous and thought-executing fires, . . .
            Singe my white head!                  --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

            I singed the toes of an ape through a burning glass.
                                                  --L'Estrange.
      [1913 Webster]

   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.
          [1913 Webster]