poacher

¹ American  

[poh-cher] / ˈpoʊ tʃər /

noun

1. a person who trespasses on private property, especially to catch fish or game illegally.

2. Also called sea-poacher.  any of several slender, marine fishes of the family Agonidae, found chiefly in deeper waters of the North Pacific, having the body covered with bony plates.

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poacher ² American  

[poh-cher] / ˈpoʊ tʃər /

noun

1. a pan having a tight-fitting lid and metal cups for steaming or poaching eggs.

2. any dish or pan used for poaching food, especially a baking dish for poaching fish.

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poacher ¹ British  

/ ˈpəʊtʃə /

noun

1. a person who illegally hunts game, fish, etc, on someone else's property

2. someone whose occupation or behaviour is the opposite of what it previously was, such as a burglar who now advises on home security

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poacher ² British  

/ ˈpəʊtʃə /

noun

1. a metal pan with individual cups for poaching eggs

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Etymology

Origin of poacher¹

First recorded in 1660–70; poach ² + -er ¹

Origin of poacher²

First recorded in 1860–65; poach ¹ + -er ¹

Explanation

A poacher is someone who breaks the law to hunt or fish. If you see someone hunting deer in a state park that's got "No Hunting" signs posted on trees, that person is a poacher. If you don't follow the rules and laws about hunting, but grab your shotgun and head into your neighbor's yard to shoot rabbits, you're in danger of being a poacher. Someone who captures wild animals illegally is also a poacher. A completely different, much nicer kind of poacher is the one you use for poaching eggs — this type of poaching consists of gently cooking food by submerging it in simmering water.

Example Sentences

She points to Poacher, which has a female protagonist, a forest officer called Mala Jogi, at the heart of its story.

From BBC • Feb. 22, 2024

Bhatt is in London to attend a preview of Poacher, the new crime drama series she is executive producing.

From BBC • Feb. 22, 2024

The FBI was brought in during late June at the request of the Buffalo Police Department, which received a call from a Predator Poacher group member, according to the affidavit.

From Washington Post • Aug. 3, 2021

When Scherer showed up for the meeting, he was confronted by Predator Poacher group members, according the affidavit.

From Washington Post • Aug. 3, 2021

It was the song of the Lincolnshire Poacher that Mr. Revere had taught Johnny and Johnny had taught Rab.

From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes