char¹ / chär/ • v. (charred, char·ring) [tr.] (usu. be charred) partially burn (an object) so as to blacken its surface: their bodies were badly charred in the fire. ∎  [intr.] (of an object) become burned and discolored in such a way.• n. material that has been charred.char² Brit., inf. • n. a charwoman.• v. (charred, char·ring) [intr.] work as a charwoman.char³ (also cha / chä/ or chai / chī/ ) • n. Brit., inf. tea.char³ (also charr) • n. (pl. same) a freshwater or marine fish (genus Salvelinus) of the salmon family, occurring in northern countries and widely valued as a food and game fish. Its several species include the North American brook trout (S. fontinalis) and the red-bellied Arctic char (S. alpinus).

char
1. A solid, carbonaceous residue, of high calorific value, derived from incomplete burning of organic material. It may be formed into briquettes and burned for fuel; if pure it can be used as a filter medium. Charcoal is made from wood or bone; coke, another char, is derived from coal. See pyrolysis.

2. The common name of four species of fish of the genus Salvelinus (family Salmonidae): arctic char (S. alpinus); brook trout (S. fontinalis); Dolly Varden trout (S. malma); and lake trout (S. namaycush).

char Solid carbonaceous residue of high calorific value, derived from incomplete burning of organic material. It may be formed into briquettes and burned for fuel; if pure it can be used as a filter medium. Charcoal is made from wood or bone; coke, another char, is derived from coal. See PYROLYSIS.

char 3
(i). var. of CHARE sb. XIII;

(ii). short for CHARWOMAN XIX.
Hence as vb.

char 2 reduce to charcoal, scorch. XVII. Presumably a back-formation f. CHARCOAL.