Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “poach” come from?

Poach derives from Middle French pocher, from Old French pochier, from Old French poche meaning pocket or pouch, from Frankish pukô, from Proto-Germanic pukô, from Proto-Indo-European bʰew-.

poach (English): To cook something in simmering liquid; To be...

Definitions

  1. To cook something in simmering liquid; To be...

Ancestry of “poach”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchpocherto poke
2Old Frenchpochepocket, bag
3Frankishpukupouch
4Proto-Germanicpukôbag; pouch
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰew-to grow, swell; to swell, wax, grow; to blow; to...

Words derived from “poach”

  • poacher
  • pochard
  • poachy
  • poachable
  • poachiness
  • red-crested pochard
  • póitseáil
  • póitseálaí
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰew- →