poaching
[ poh-ching ]
/ ˈpoʊ tʃɪŋ /
noun
the illegal practice of trespassing on another's property to hunt or steal game without the landowner's permission.
any encroachment on another's property, rights, ideas, or the like.
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Related forms
an·ti·poach·ing, adjectiveDefinition for poaching (2 of 3)
poach
1[ pohch ]
/ poʊtʃ /
verb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
Origin of poach
1Related forms
poach·a·ble, adjectiveDefinition for poaching (3 of 3)
poach
2[ pohch ]
/ poʊtʃ /
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
21350–1400; Middle English poche < Middle French pocher literally, to bag (the yolk inside the white), derivative of poche bag (French poche pocket) < Middle Dutch poke poke2
Related forms
poach·a·ble, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for poaching
British Dictionary definitions for poaching (1 of 2)
poach
1/ (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
Word Origin for poach
C17: from Old French pocher, of Germanic origin; compare Middle Dutch poken to prod; see poke 1
British Dictionary definitions for poaching (2 of 2)
poach
2/ (pəʊtʃ) /
verb
to simmer (eggs, fish, etc) very gently in water, milk, stock, etc
Word Origin for 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
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