poach

present singular third person poaches · participle present poaching · participle past poached · past poached

1. transitiveTo cook (something) in simmering or very hot liquid (usually water; sometimes wine, broth, or otherwise).

   Eldridge closed the despatch-case with a snap and, rising briskly, walked down the corridor to his solitary table in the dining-car. Mulligatawny soup, poached turbot, roast leg of lamb—the usual railway dinner.

   1931, Francis Beeding, “1/1”, in Death Walks in Eastrepps

2. intransitiveTo be cooked in such manner.

   The white of an egg with spirit of wine, doth bake the egg into clots, as if it began to poach.

   1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “(please specify the page, or |century=I to X)”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC

plural poaches

1. The act of cooking in simmering liquid.

   Peaches are so perfect they need very little to make them extra special—just a quick poach in basil-scented rosé wine and a few adoring strawberries.

   2005, Jill Dupleix, Good Cooking: The New Basics, page 152

present singular third person poaches · participle present poaching · participle past poached · past poached

1. ambitransitiveTo trespass on another's property to take fish or game.
2. ambitransitiveTo take game or fish illegally.

   A 2016 study using carbon dating of more than 200 tusks from seizures spanning nine countries suggested that illegal ivory originates from elephants poached recently, instead of being pilfered from aging stockpiles kept by various nations.

   2021 November 12, Christine Chung, “2 Ivory Smugglers Captured in International Operation, U.S. Says”, in The New York Times, →ISSN

3. ambitransitivebroadlyTo take anything illegally or unfairly.

   Chelsea's embarrassment was symbolised by Ross Barkley's inexplicable header straight to the feet of Aguero to poach his second and Ilkay Gundogan capped that early blitz with a low drive.

   2019 February 10, Phil McNulty, “Manchester City 6-0 Chelsea”, in BBC Sport

4. figurativelyTo intrude; to interfere; to get involved inappropriately, without welcome.

   to poach in foreign academic disciplines

5. ambitransitivebusinessTo entice (an employee or customer) to switch from a competing company to one's own.

   What's going on here? Are you trying to poach my teamaker?

   2006 November 3, Tim Hedrick, “Lake Laogai” (2:58 from the start), in Lauren MacMullan, director, Avatar: The Last Airbender, season 2 (Book Two: Earth), episode 17, spoken by Pao (George Cheung)

   1 more example

   EBay has accused three Amazon managers of illegally conspiring to poach its sellers, escalating a monthslong feud between two of the country’s largest e-commerce companies.

   2019 August 1, Karen Weise, “EBay Accuses Amazon Managers of Conspiring to Poach Its Sellers”, in The New York Times, →ISSN

6. To make soft or muddy by trampling.

   Cattle coming to drink had punched and poached the river bank into a mess of mud.

   1 more example

   the poach'd filth that floods the middle street

   1859, Alfred Tennyson, “(please specify the page)”, in Idylls of the King, London: Edward Moxon & Co., […], →OCLC

7. To become soft or muddy by being trampled on.

   Chalky and clay lands […] chap in summer, and poach in winter.

   1707, J[ohn] Mortimer, The Whole Art of Husbandry; or, The Way of Managing and Improving of Land. […], London: […] J[ohn] H[umphreys] for H[enry] Mortlock […], and J[onathan] Robinson […], →OCLC

8. obsoleteTo stab; to pierce; to spear or drive or plunge into something.

   his horse poching one of his legs into some hollow ground

   1673, William Temple, Observations upon the United Provinces

   3 more examples

   They vse alſo to poche them with an instrument somewhat like the Sammon-speare

   1609, Richard Carew, The Survey of Cornwall, London: […] S[imon] S[tafford] for Iohn Iaggard, […], →OCLC

   And the laws of your wrastling are that neither shall strangle his adversary with his hands, nor bite him, nor claw nor scratch his flesh, nor poach out his eyes, nor smite him with his fists, nor do any other unfair thing against him, but in all other respects ye shall wrastle freely together.

   1922, E[ric] R[ücker] Eddison, The Worm Ouroboros: A Romance, London: Jonathan Cape […], →OCLC, page 20

   Mutt Malvern stands with a wicked blade in one hand and, in the other, a three-pronged leister spear of the sort used to poach fish or birds.

   2011, Maggie Stiefvater, The Scorpio Races

   Synonyms: jab, run through, chef, chib, ching, chive, enthrill, foin

plural poaches

1. The act of taking something unfairly, as in tennis doubles where one player returns a shot that their partner was better placed to return.