poach

¹

[pohch]

verb (used with object)

1. to cook (eggs, fish, fruits, etc.) in a hot liquid that is kept just below the boiling point.

poach

²

[pohch]

verb (used with object)

1. to trespass on (private property), especially in order to hunt or fish.

2. to steal (game or fish) from another's property.

3. to take without permission and use as one's own.

   to poach ideas;

   a staff poached from other companies.

4. to break or tear up by trampling.

5. to mix with water and reduce to a uniform consistency, as clay.

verb (used without object)

1. to trespass, especially on another's game preserve, in order to steal animals or to hunt.

2. to take game or fish illegally.

3. (of land) to become broken up or slushy by being trampled.

4. (in tennis, squash, handball, etc.) to play a ball hit into the territory of one's partner that is properly the partner's ball to play.

5. Informal.,  to cheat in a game or contest.

poach

¹

/ pəʊtʃ /

verb

1. to catch (game, fish, etc) illegally by trespassing on private property

2. to encroach on or usurp (another person's rights, duties, etc) or steal (an idea, employee, etc)

3. tennis badminton to take or play (shots that should belong to one's partner)

4. to break up (land) into wet muddy patches, as by riding over it, or (of land) to become broken up in this way

5. (intr) (of the feet, shoes, etc) to sink into heavy wet ground

poach

²

/ pəʊtʃ /

verb

1. to simmer (eggs, fish, etc) very gently in water, milk, stock, etc

Other Word Forms

• poachable adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of poach¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English noun poche “poached eggs (in sauce),” from Old French pochié, past participle of pochier “to bag (the yolk inside the white),” derivative of poche “bag, pocket,” from Middle Dutch poke poke ²

Origin of poach²

First recorded in 1520–30; of uncertain origin; perhaps from earlier meaning “to shove, thrust,” from Middle French pocher “to gouge,” from Germanic; akin to poke ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of poach¹

C17: from Old French pocher, of Germanic origin; compare Middle Dutch poken to prod; see _poke ¹

Origin of poach²

C15: from Old French pochier to enclose in a bag (as the yolks are enclosed by the whites); compare _poke ²

Example Sentences

Chelsea had long been one of top academy set-ups, capable of poaching talents through simply being one of the best funded.

From BBC

Day, who was poached by the Football Association in April 2024, was right about the rest too.

From BBC

When rangers raided the farm, they discovered evidence of poaching activity and recovered a semi-automatic pistol.

From Los Angeles Times

Online scammers continue to dupe a majority of American adults as they infiltrate virtual calendars and security systems meant to defend users against the poaching of personal information.

From Los Angeles Times

South Africa has the largest rhino population in the world, and hundreds of the animals are poached there every year.

From BBC

Related Words

• smuggle