verb

poach

to poach

She likes to poach eggs for breakfast.

She likes to poach eggs for breakfast.

They poach elephants for their ivory tusks.

They poach elephants for their ivory tusks.

The company poached a top designer from their rival.

The company poached a top designer from their rival.

((sth.)) to cook (sth.) by simmering She likes to poach eggs for breakfast.

((sth.)) to hunt (sth.) illegally They poach elephants for their ivory tusks.

((sb.)) ((from sth.)) to take (sb.) from (a competitor) The company poached a top designer from their rival.

(cook) boil, simmer; (hunt) hunt illegally; (take) steal, snatch

From Old French 'pochier', 'to put in a pocket or bag'. This relates to cooking an egg (enclosing the yolk) and illegal hunting (bagging game).

Imagine putting an egg in a 'pocket' of hot water, or a hunter putting an animal in their 'pocket' (bag).

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