# poach

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈpoʊt͡ʃ/ · frequency rank #42,828

## Definitions
1. To cook (something) in simmering or very hot liquid (usually water; sometimes wine, broth, or otherwise).
2. To be cooked in such manner.

## Etymology
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”).

## Easily confused with
- **POC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poach-vs-poc)
- **posh** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poach-vs-posh)
- **Pooh** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poach-vs-pooh)
- **punch** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poach-vs-punch)
- **porch** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poach-vs-porch)
- **psych** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poach-vs-psych)
- **pouch** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poach-vs-pouch)
- **pooch** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poach-vs-pooch)
- **ponce** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poach-vs-ponce)
- **preach** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poach-vs-preach)
- **potash** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poach-vs-potash)
- **poncho** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poach-vs-poncho)
- **poached** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poach-vs-poached)
- **poacher** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poach-vs-poacher)
- **PAC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pac-vs-poach)
- **PAH** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pah-vs-poach)
- **poa** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poa-vs-poach)
- **path** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/path-vs-poach)
- **pack** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pack-vs-poach)
- **pace** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pace-vs-poach)

## Common misspellings (7)
`opach`, `paoch`, `poacch`, `poachh`, `poahc`, `pocah`, `ppoach`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/poach