poaching

[poh-ching]

noun

1. the illegal practice of trespassing on another's property to hunt or steal game without the landowner's permission.

2. any encroachment on another's property, rights, ideas, or the like.

Other Word Forms

• antipoaching adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of poaching¹

First recorded in 1605–15; poach ² + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

It accused the charity African Parks of failing to curb poaching, ending a 15-year mandate to manage two of its protected sites in the central African country.

Read more on BBC

It intended a similar drastic shake-up to rugby, poaching top talent for a global short-form tournament.

Read more on BBC

They later moved to the Central African Republic, where it is understood they engaged in poaching and illegal mining.

Read more on BBC

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

Read more on BBC

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

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• piracy 
• smuggling www.thesaurus.com
• trafficking