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

poach

²

/ 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

Other Words From

• poacha·ble 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

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

Origin of poach²

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

Example Sentences

"The issues and conditions favor Donald Trump. He should be winning this election. But the attributes are so much in Harris' favor that he's not," he said, pointing to Trump publicly backing Elon Musk's decision to fire striking workers as an example of the former president needlessly alienating the same voters he's been trying to poach from the Democratic coalition.

From Salon

"Look, I don't like when other therapists poach patients, but it's your right to explore other approaches when your regular therapist is away. You should be a smart and open-minded consumer," said Los Angeles psychotherapist and author Dennis Palumbo, who studied Buddhism and has a creative clientele.

From Salon

After President Biden’s debate debacle this summer, the show’s creator, Sorkin, penned a bizarre op-ed suggesting that the Democrats nominate Mitt Romney, a moderate Republican, for president, a strategy to poach enough conservative voters to keep former President Trump from regaining power.

From Los Angeles Times

Klowden said that for some SpaceX workers a move to South Texas could be a no-go, and he expects other aerospace companies will attempt poach its workers.

From Los Angeles Times

I loved Dan's comment which sort of summed up my whole opinion on the challenge: "You don't boil fish, you poach fish."

From Salon

Related Words

• smuggle