from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Parboil \Par"boil`\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Parboiled}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Parboiling}.] [OE. parboilen, OF. parbouillir to cook
well; par through (see {Par}) + bouillir to boil, L. bullire.
The sense has been influenced by E. part. See 1st {Boil}.]
1. To boil or cook thoroughly. [Obs.] --B. Jonson.
[1913 Webster]
2. To boil in part; to cook partially by boiling.
[1913 Webster]
3. Hence: (Fig.) To do (something) only part way, or
incompletely. Also used intransitively.
[PJC]