1poach1 (pəʊtʃ
)
Definitions
verb
- to catch (game, fish, etc) illegally by trespassing on private property
- to encroach on or usurp (another person's rights, duties, etc) or steal (an idea, employee, etc)
- tennis badminton to take or play (shots that should belong to one's partner)
- to break up (land) into wet muddy patches, as by riding over it, or (of land) to become broken up in this way
- (intr) (of the feet, shoes, etc) to sink into heavy wet ground
Word Origin
C17: from Old French pocher, of Germanic origin; compare Middle Dutch poken to prod; see pokeC17: from Old French of Germanic origin; compare Middle Dutch to prod; see 1
Synonyms
View thesaurus entry
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encroach on
appropriate,
intrude on,
trespass on infringe (on)
2poach2 (pəʊtʃ)
Definitions
verb
- to simmer (eggs, fish, etc) very gently in water, milk, stock, etc
Word Origin
C15: from Old French pochier to enclose in a bag (as the yolks are enclosed by the whites); compare poke²
