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

Shares of DraftKings fell by more than 22% in September, while Flutter shed over 17%, as investors sold their positions in the companies, anticipating a future in which prediction markets poach customers from betting platforms.

Read more on MarketWatch

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

Lou Carpenter, who owns ancient woodland that provides a habitat for rare birds, told the BBC that catapults were being used to poach, and the problem was getting worse.

Read more on BBC

Along the way, the agency has walked a delicate line, seeking to maintain cordial relations with local department leaders while also trying to poach their officers.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

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

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• smuggle