3 entries under this word
[imp. & p. p. POACHED (pōcht); p. pr. & vb. n. POACHING.] [Fr. pocher, to poach eggs, empocher, to put in one's pocket, from poche, pocket, pouch, Prov. & O. Fr. poque, pouque, Eng. poke, q. v.]
Sense 1. To cook, as eggs, by breaking them into a vessel of boiling water; also, to cook with butter after breaking in a vessel.
Sense 2. To begin and not complete. [Obs.] Bacon.
Sense 3. To rob of game; to pocket and convey away by stealth, as game; hence, to plunder.
v. t. [O. Fr. pocher, to thrust or dig out with the fingers, to bruise the eyes, poquer, to shock. See supra, and cf. POKE.]
The cattle of the villagers . . . had poached into black mud the verdant turf. W. Scott.
v. t. [Fr. poche, a pocket, bag. See supra.]
Sense 1. To steal or pocket game, or to carry it away privately, as in a bag; to kill or destroy game contrary to law. [Eng.] Ogilvie.
Sense 2. To be trodden with deep tracks, as soft ground.
Chalky and clay lands burn in hot weather, chap in summer, and poach in winter. Mortimer.