Poach (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Poached (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Poaching.] [F. pocher to place in a pocket, to poach eggs (the yolk of the egg being as it were pouched in the white), from poche pocket, pouch. See Pouch, v. &n.]
1.
To cook, as eggs, by breaking them into boiling water; also, to cook with butter after breaking in a vessel.
Bacon.
2.
To rob of game; to pocket and convey away by stealth, as game; hence, to plunder.
Garth.
© Webster 1913.
Poach, v. i.
To steal or pocket game, or to carry it away privately, as in a bag; to kill or destroy game contrary to law, especially by night; to hunt or fish unlawfully; as, to poach for rabbits or for salmon.
© Webster 1913.
Poach, v. t. [Cf. OF. pocher to thrust or dig out with the fingers, to bruise (the eyes), F. pouce thumb, L. pollex, and also E. poach to cook eggs, to plunder, and poke to thrust against.]
1.
To stab; to pierce; to spear, \as fish.
[Obs.]
Carew.
2.
To force, drive, or plunge into anything.
[Obs.]
His horse poching one of his legs into some hollow ground.
Sir W. Temple.
3.
To make soft or muddy by trampling
Tennyson.
4.
To begin and not complete.
[Obs.]
Bacon.
© Webster 1913.
Poach, v. i.
To become soft or muddy.
Chalky and clay lands . . . chap in summer, and poach in winter.
Mortimer.
© Webster 1913.