[appears only about the middle of the 17th c.; see CHARK sb.1] trans. To burn to charcoal; to char; to coke (coals).
1662. Fuller, Worthies, III. 97. A way … to Charke Seacole in such manner, as to render it usefull for the making of Iron.
1664. Evelyn, Sylva, 32. Small-coal … made by charking the slenderest brush, and summities of the twigs.
1684. T. Burnet, Th. Earth, II. 53. We are not to conceive that the Earth will be onely scorcht or charkt in the last fire…; It will become a molten Sea mingled with fire.
1806–7. J. Beresford, Miseries Hum. Life (1826), IX. v. A beefsteak … completely charked by over-dressing.
1836. Sir G. Head, Home Tour, 128. Fires, for the purpose of charking the coal used in smelting the metal.
Hence Charked ppl. a.; Charking vbl. sb.
1655. Counc. Order, in Thurloe, State Pap. (1742), III. 496. The sole exercise of their invention of charking or calcining of New Castle coals. His invention of making of iron with pitcoal charked.
1667. Denham, Direct. Paint., II. ii. 104. Yet if thou wilt, paint MINNS turn’d all to Soul,
1870. Jevons, Elem. Logic, vi. 45. Coal … originally … was the name of charked or charred wood.
