poach

Etymology 1

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”).

verb

1. (transitive) To cook something in simmering or very hot liquid.
   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. (intransitive) To be cooked in simmering or very hot liquid

noun

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

Etymology 2

From Old French pocher, pochier (“to trample, poach into”). Doublet of poke.

verb

1. (transitive, intransitive) To trespass on another's property to take fish or game.
2. (transitive, intransitive) 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. 2021-11-12, Christine Chung, “2 Ivory Smugglers Captured in International Operation, U.S. Says”, in The New York Times, →ISSN
3. (by extension, transitive, intransitive) 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, 10 February, Phil McNulty, “Manchester City 6-0 Chelsea”, in BBC Sport
4. (figurative) To intrude; to interfere; to get involved inappropriately, without welcome.
   to poach in foreign academic disciplines
5. (business, transitive, intransitive) 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. 2019-08-01, 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.
7. To become soft or muddy by being trampled on.
8. (obsolete) To 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
   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

noun

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.