poach

¹ American  

[pohch] / poʊtʃ /

verb (used with object)

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

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poach ² American  

[pohch] / poʊtʃ /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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poach ² British  

/ pəʊtʃ /

verb

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

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Other Word Forms

• poachable adjective

Etymology

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

Explanation

When people poach deer or ducks, they hunt them illegally. On the other hand, when you poach an egg, it's perfectly legal — you just cook it in simmering water. Hunters are only permitted to hunt certain animals during specific times of the year, and only in certain locations. If a hunter shoots a rabbit on another person's private land, you can say she poaches it. This meaning probably stems from the Middle French pocher, "to thrust." Another theory connects it to the "cook in hot liquid" meaning of poach and its Old French root poché, "put into a pocket."

Example Sentences

Asked if he would poach any politicians from other parties, he said there were "a few good Tories in the SNP".

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

His performance was so impressive that another team was eager to poach him.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 3, 2026

She also helped maintain Disney’s direct line to Fairyland, as Disney in 1957 would once again poach from Fairyland, this time puppeteer Bob Mills to run Disneyland’s budding marionette program.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 21, 2026

In a market where some U.S. firms are pulling back on flexibility, global-first companies are still using remote work to poach top talent.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 9, 2026

“Besides, he was jealous of Gareth. He was afraid that our brother would poach on his preserves. Our Gareth copied him, which did not suit the preux chevalier. You can’t have two knights without reproach.”

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

Related Words

• smuggle