poach 1
— poachable , adj.
/pohch/ , v.i.
1. to trespass, esp. 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.
v.t.
6. to trespass on (private property), esp. in order to hunt or fish.
7. to steal (game or fish) from another's property.
8. to take without permission and use as one's own: to poach ideas; a staff poached from other companies.
9. to break or tear up by trampling.
10. to mix with water and reduce to a uniform consistency, as clay.
[ 1520-30; earlier: to shove, thrust pocher to gouge 1 ]
poach 2
— poachable , adj.
/pohch/ , v.t.
to cook (eggs, fish, fruits, etc.) in a hot liquid that is kept just below the boiling point.
[ 1350-1400; ME poche pocher lit., to bag (the yolk inside the white), deriv. of poche bag (F poche pocket) poke POKE 2 ]