poach (2), poche, potche

t. . [A softened form of poke, v. (q. v.); cf. Fr. pocher, poucher = to thrust or dig out with the fingers, from pouce = the thumb.] A. Transitive : *1. To stab, to spear, to pierce. *2. To force, or drive into; to plunge into. "His horse poching one of his legs into some hollow ground."- Temple : United Provinces , ch. i. 3. To tread, as snow or soft ground, so as to make it broken and slushy. "The poached filth that floods the middle street." Tennyson: Vivien, 647 *B. Intransitive: 1. To thrust, to stab, to poke. "I'll potche at him some way." Shakesp.: Coriolanus, 1. 10. 2. To make an attempt at something; to make a start without going on. "They have rather poached and offered at a number of enter prizes, than maintained any constantly."- Bacon : War with Spain . 3. To become swampy or slushy, as with heavy trampling. [Α.3.] "Chalky and clay lands burn in hot weather, chap in summer, and poach in winter."-Mortimer: Husbandry. pōaçh (3), *poch, v . t . . [Fr. pocher =to poach into or encroach upon another man's employment, practice, or trade. ( Cotgrave .) Origin doubtful; but prob. from poche =the pocket, and so either to put into one's own pocket, or to put one's hand in the pocket of another. Cf. POACH (1).] A. Transitive : 3165 1. To rob of game; to intrude on for the purpose of stealing game. "The Greta is not nearly so much poached as formerly."- Field , Oct. 3, 1885. 2. To intrude or encroach upon unlawfully. "They poach Parna us, and lay claim for praise." Garth: Claremont, B. Intransitive : 1. To steal game or fish; to intrude on the preserves se of another for the purpose of stealing game; to kill game illegally. "All the owners poached for salmon."- London Standard. 2. To intrude unlawfully; to hunt improperly. pōaçh-ard, s . [POCHARD.] põaçh-er, s. [Eng. poach (3); -er.] 1. One who intrudes. (Perhaps here one who pokes or thrusts himself into matters with which he has no right to meddle.) "I would ask a casuist if it were not lawful for me not only to hide my mind, but to cast something that is not true before such a poacher."-Hacket: Life of Williams, pt. ii., p. 113. 2. One who poaches; one who steals or kills game or fish illegally. "The poachers knew well where the fish lay."-Field, Oct. 3, 1885. pōaçh-i-ne , subst. [Eng. poachy; -ne .] The quality or state of being poachy. pōaçh-, adj . [Eng. poach (2); -v.] Wet and soft; swampy; easily trodden into holes by cattle. "Marsh lands lay not up till April, except your marshes be very poachy ." -Mortimer : Husbandry. pō-a-çite, s. [POACITES.] Any plant of the fo il genus Poacites (q. v.). and suff. -ites.] pō-a-çi-tēş, subst . [ Gr.poa =gra ; cconnect., Palæobot .: A genus of fo il plants. Two species in the Carboniferous, and one in the Eocene. ( Eth eridge.) They may ultimately be proved not to be closely akin either to Poa or to each other.