Etymology From Middle English pochen (“to poach (eggs)”), from Old French pocher "to put (egg yolks) in pockets" (i.e. in bags formed by the whites), from Old French poche (“pocket”).
1
To 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
To 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:
Etymology From Middle English pochen (“to poach (eggs)”), from Old French pocher "to put (egg yolks) in pockets" (i.e. in bags formed by the whites), from Old French poche (“pocket”).
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:
poach
verb
Etymology From Old French pocher, pochier (“to trample, poach into”). Doublet of poke.
Ambitransitive To trespass on another's property to take fish or game.
2
Ambitransitive To 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
Ambitransitive, Broadly To 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
Figuratively To intrude; to interfere; to get involved inappropriately, without welcome.
to poach in foreign academic disciplines
5
BusinessAmbitransitive To entice (an employee or customer) to switch from a competing company to one's own.
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.
the poach'd filth that floods the middle street1859, 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
Obsolete To stab; to pierce; to spear or drive or plunge into something.
They vse alſo to poche them with an instrument somewhat like the Sammon-speare1609, Richard Carew, The Survey of Cornwall, London: […] S[imon] S[tafford] for Iohn Iaggard, […], →OCLC:
his horse poching one of his legs into some hollow ground1673, William Temple, Observations upon the United Provinces:
2 more examples
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: