v. poached, poach·ing, poach·es v.intr. 1. To take fish or game illegally, especially by trespassing on another's property. 2. a. To take or appropriate something unfairly or illegally. b. To encroach on another person's rights or responsibilities: felt the guys in accounting were poaching on his turf. c. Sports To play a ball out of turn or in another's territory, as in doubles tennis. 3. To become muddy or broken up from being trampled. Used of land. 4. To sink into soft earth when walking. v.tr. 1. To take (fish or game) illegally, especially by trespassing on another's property. 2. a. To take or appropriate unfairly or illegally: poaching another firm's best employees. b. Sports To play (a ball) out of turn or in another's territory. 3. To make (land) muddy or broken up by trampling. [Early Modern English poche, poach, to poke, probe, intrude, poach (game), from Middle French pocher, to poke (in the eye), from Old French pochier, to poke, gouge, from poche, bag, pouch (from the resemblance of an empty eye socket to a pouch), of Germanic origin; akin to Old North French poke; see POKE3.] poacha·ble adj. |
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