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poach

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Poach is defined as to cook in a liquid that is simmering or boiling, or to take something illegally or unfairly, especially game.

(verb)

An example of to poach is to cook a salmon steak in white wine.
An example of to poach is to hunt a turkey from someone else's property.

See poach in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb

to cook (fish, an egg without its shell, etc.) in water or other liquid near boiling point, or in a small receptacle placed over boiling water

Origin: ME pochen < MFr pochier, to pocket < poche, pouch, pocket (< Frank *pokka, pocket: for IE base see poke): the yolk is “pocketed” in the white

transitive verb

to soften, tear up, or make holes in (ground) by stamping; trample
to mix with water until smooth
1. to trespass on (private property), esp. for hunting or fishing
2. to hunt or catch (game or fish) illegally, esp. by trespassing
to take (anything) by unfair or illegal methods; steal

Origin: Fr pocher < OFr pochier, to tread upon, intrude < MHG bochen, puchen, to strike upon, plunder, akin to poke

intransitive verb

to sink into soft or wet earth when walking
to become soggy or full of holes when trampled; turn into mud
to hunt or fish illegally, esp. by trespassing on
Racket Sports to return a shot near the net that was intended for one's partner in the back court

Related Forms:

poacher noun

See poach in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb poached, poach·ing, poach·es

To cook in a boiling or simmering liquid: Poach the fish in wine.

Origin:

Origin: Back-formation from Middle English poched, poached

Origin: , from poche, dish of poached eggs

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from past participle of pochier, to poach eggs

Origin: , from poche, pocket, bag (from their appearance)

Origin: , of Germanic origin

Related Forms:

poachˈa·ble adjective

verb poached, poach·ing, poach·es

verb, intransitive

To trespass on another's property in order to take fish or game.
To take fish or game in a forbidden area.
To become muddy or broken up from being trampled. Used of land.
To sink into soft earth when walking.
a. To take or appropriate something unfairly or illegally.
b. Sports To play a ball out of turn or in another's territory, as in doubles tennis.

verb, transitive

To trespass on (another's property) for fishing or hunting.
To take (fish or game) illegally.
To make (land) muddy or broken up by trampling.
a. To take or appropriate unfairly or illegally.
b. Sports To play (a ball) out of turn or in another's territory.

Origin:

Origin: Obsolete French pocher, to poke, thrust, intrude

Origin: , from Old French pochier, to poke, gouge

Origin: , of Germanic origin

Related Forms: