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

Example Sentences

In recent years, LIV Golf made attempts to poach high-profile golfers away from the PGA Tour to start its own golf circuit, which is financially supported by Saudi’s Public Investment Fund.

From MarketWatch

“This is good poaching ground for us,” the first-time winner said in the Globes press room after the show’s comedy series win.

From Los Angeles Times

The president said earlier this year that Epstein’s poaching of employees like Giuffre was part of the reason their friendship came to an end.

From Salon

The arrangement resembles an "acquihire" – a practice increasingly common in Silicon Valley where larger tech companies poach key staff from smaller firms, leaving a small remnant of the company behind.

From Barron's

There is frustration at NSW Police, who have for years been warned by the Muslim community of hate preachers poaching their young men.

From BBC

Related Words

• smuggle