poach

[ pohch ]

See synonyms for: poach poaching on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

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

Origin of poach

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 poke²

Other words from poach

poach·a·ble, adjective

Words Nearby poach

Other definitions for poach (2 of 2)

poach²

[ pohch ]

verb (used with object)

to trespass on (private property), especially in order to hunt or fish.
to steal (game or fish) from another's property.

to take without permission and use as one's own: to poach ideas;a staff poached from other companies.
to break or tear up by trampling.
to mix with water and reduce to a uniform consistency, as clay.

verb (used without object)

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

(of land) to become broken up or slushy by being trampled.
(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.
Informal. to cheat in a game or contest.

Origin of poach

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 poke¹

Other words from poach

poach·a·ble, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use poach in a sentence

Fulmer, who had been serving as an ambassador for Vols football since 2009, took over as athletic director and soon poached Pruitt from Nick Saban’s staff at Alabama.
Tennessee fires coach Jeremy Pruitt, alleges his staff committed ‘stunning’ amount of NCAA violations | Des Bieler | January 19, 2021 | Washington Post
Tourism had lessened people’s need to poach wildlife for money or food and encouraged them to see animals as an asset rather than a threat.
Photos: Africa’s nature parks are in the midst of a pandemic-induced conservation crisis | Peter Chadwick (photos) | January 9, 2021 | Quartz
Finishing off the giant turkey took less time and work than I imagined — if anything, it made deciding what to eat easier, and there was no need to keep poaching chickens for a few weeks.
20 Days of Turkey | Meghan McCarron | December 23, 2020 | Eater
Video game publisher Activision Blizzard sued Netflix, claiming the video-streaming service engaged in a yearslong campaign of unlawfully poaching executives, including by hiring its former chief financial officer.
Activision sues Netflix over hiring of former finance chief | Verne Kopytoff | December 4, 2020 | Fortune
At a time when title contenders often have to play defense to prevent their star talent from being poached, the reigning champions went out and almost certainly made themselves better.
The NBA Champs Look More Dangerous Than Ever | Chris Herring (chris.herring@fivethirtyeight.com) | November 25, 2020 | FiveThirtyEight

I try not to think about the cold years ahead, when time will slowly poach my youth and my body will begin its untoward changes.
The Modern ‘Lolita’: Dramatizing the Mind of a Female Pedophile in Alissa Nutting’s ‘Tampa’ | Roxane Gay | June 28, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
Both are models for the type of newsperson Al Jazeera is trying to poach.
The Al Jazeera Charm Offensive | David Freedlander | March 20, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
Directing her to disrobe, she would poach her in herbs in a hot tub and then literally electrify her.
The Sexy Side of Maggie: How Thatcher Used Her Softer Quality | Gail Sheehy | January 11, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
Indeed, there will be lots of clients and agents and turf to poach or protect if this deal goes through.
Hollywood's Coming Culture Clash | Kim Masters | March 25, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST
To form cutlets similar to the fillet cutlets, place them in a frying-pan, and let them poach in water.
Dressed Game and Poultry la Mode | Harriet A. de Salis
Drop these carefully into very hot water, and poach them gently for a few minutes.
Dressed Game and Poultry la Mode | Harriet A. de Salis
A pretty pass of impudence to be coming that distance to poach.'
The Heir of Redclyffe | Charlotte M. Yonge
He could hardly even poach an egg, and hadn't the smallest idea of cooking.
The Doings of the Fifteenth Infantry Brigade | Edward Lord Gleichen
poach′er, one who poaches or steals game: the widgeon, from its habit of stealing the prey of other ducks; poach′ing.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) | Various

British Dictionary definitions for poach (1 of 2)

poach¹

/ (pəʊtʃ) /

verb

to catch (game, fish, etc) illegally by trespassing on private property
to encroach on or usurp (another person's rights, duties, etc) or steal (an idea, employee, etc)

tennis badminton to take or play (shots that should belong to one's partner)
to break up (land) into wet muddy patches, as by riding over it, or (of land) to become broken up in this way
(intr) (of the feet, shoes, etc) to sink into heavy wet ground

Origin of poach

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

British Dictionary definitions for poach (2 of 2)

poach²

/ (pəʊtʃ) /

verb

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

Origin of poach

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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