poach 
poach 2 (poch), c. [Formerly also poch (and 
;irA<?T); appar. < OF. poeher, fouiul in the 
phrase "jmcln-r l< l/i/imr d"aulruy, to poch into, 
or incroach upon, anot her man's imployment, 
practice in trade" (Cotgrave), where the exact 
sense is undetermined: it might be translated 
'to pocket another man 8 labor 1 (poeher, pocket, 
< poehe, a pocket, pouch : see pouch, poke 2 ) ; or 
porker may be identical with pocher, thrust: 
see poach 1 . Ct. OF. poeher, imitate, counter- 
feit.] I. intraim. To intrude or encroach upon 
another's preserves for the purpose of stealing 
game ; kill and carry off game in violation of 
law. 
Hli greatest fault Is he hunts too much in the purlieus ; 
would In would leave on* poaching! 
Beau, and Ft., Philatter, Iv. 1. 
H. trans. To trespass upon, especially for the 
purpose of killing and stealing game. 
Ho shameless, so abandoned are their ways, 
They poach Parnassus, and lay claim for praise. 
1,'nriii. Claremont 
But In , triumphant spirit ! all things dared, 
lie poach'd the wood, and on the warren snared. 
Crabbe, Works, I. 67. 
poach 3 (poch), v. t. [Early mod. E. also;>oateft, 
patch, poehe, poch; < F. poeher, poach (eggs), 
first appar. in the pp., ceuf poehe, a poached 
egg, perhaps orig. an egg 'scooped out' (or 
simply 'broken'), the verb being then a partic- 
ular use of OF. poeher, thrust, poke, dig out with 
the fingers: see poach 1 . Ct. poaclfl, perhaps 
of the same ult. origin.] To cook by breaking 
the shell and dropping the contents whole into 
boiling water: said of eggs. 
Tin'. Has drest his excellence such a dish of eggs 
P.jun. What, patched' 
B. Jonton, Staple of News, iii. 1. 
Is a man therefore hound In the morning to potcht eggs 
and Tinnegar? Milton, On Def. of Humb. Remonst. 
poachardt, An obsolete form of pochard. 
poacher 1 (po'cher), n. f< poach 2 + -er*."] 1. 
One who poaches ; one who intrudes on the pre- 
serves of another for the purpose of stealing 
game; one who kills game unlawfully. 2. 
The sea-poacher, a fish. 3. The widgeon, 
Afareca americana: so called from its habit of 
seizing the food for which other ducks have 
dived. G. Trumbull. [Michigan.] 
poacher'- 3 (po'cher), n. [<j>oc/J 3 + -!.] A 
contrivance for poaching eggs. 
poachiness (po'chi-nes), . The state of being 
poachy. 
The rallies, because of the poachinest, they keep for 
grass. Mortimer, Husbandry. 
poachy (po'chi), a. [< poach*- + y*.'] Wet and 
soft ; easily penetrated, as by the feet of cattle : 
said of land. 
But marsh lands lay not np till April, except your 
marshes be very poachy. Mortimer, Husbandry. 
Poacites (po-a-si'tez), . [NL., < Or. nua, grass, 
+ -c- (insignificant) + -ite 2 .] A generic name, 
originated by Brongniart, under which have 
been described a large number of leaves of 
fossil plants supposed to belong to the Gra- 
minctf. 
poad-milk (pod'milk), n. The first milk given 
by cows after calving; beestings, llalliirell. 
[Prov. Eng.] 
poak 1 1, v. An obsolete spelling otpoke*. 
poak- (pok), n. [Also poake ; origin obscure.] 
Waste arising from the preparation of skins, 
composed of hair, lime, oil, etc. It is used as 
manure. 
pocan (po'kan), n. [See poke*.] The poke or 
pokeweed, t'hytolacca decandra. 
pocardt, n. An obsolete form of pochard. 
Banco I It. |, n bird called a pocard. Florio, 1698. 
poccoon, ii . Same as puccoon. 
pochard (po'chard), n. [Also poker, and for- 
merly poacliarrl, pocard; said to be a var. of 
poacher. Cf. poacher, 3.] A duck, Fuligula or 
sEthyia fcrina, belonging to the family Anatidir 
and subfamily Fuliyuliiiee, more fully called the 
red-headed or red-eyed pochard, also dunbird. 
Thl* duck Is very common In Europe and many other parts 
of the Old World, and a variety or very closely related 
species, F. or M. atnericana. Is equally so in North Ameri- 
ca, and known as the redhead. In the male the head Is 
puffy, and with the neck Is rich chestnut-mi with coppery 
or tiroii/) reflections. The lower neck, fore parts of the Inxly 
above and below, and rump and tail-coverts are Mack 
The back Is white, flncly vennlculated with wavy or zlg- 
S*C Mack lines. The bill Is dull-bine with a black belt at 
the end. and the feet are grayish-blue with dusky webs. 
The eyes are orange. The female has the head dull-brown. 
The length Is from a> to 23 Inches, the extent of wings 
about 33 inches. The pochard Is a near relative of the 
canvasback. The name U extended to some or all of the 
4576 
species of Fuligtaa In a broad sense : as, the white-eyed 
pochard. See cuts under Nyroca, redhead, and soaup. 
poche't (poch), r. An obsolete form of poach*. 
poche'-t, A Middle English form of poke?, 
pouch. 
pochette (po-shef), . [F.] A small violin: 
see kit . 
pock 1 (pok), . [< ME. pokke, pi. pokkes, < AS. 
poc (pocc-), a pustule, = MD. pocke, D. pok = 
MLG. pocke, poehe. LG. pokken, pi., = G. dial. 
pfocke (G. pocke, \ LG.), a pustule, G.vocken, 
pi . , smallpox ; cf . Gael, pucaid , a pimple, Ir. puc- 
oid (T), a pustule, pucadh. a swelling up; akin 
to /W.r '-, a bag. Hence pi. pocks, taken, esp. in 
small pocks, as a singular, and spelled disguised- 
ly /<<<-''.] 1. A pustule raised on the surface of 
the body in an eruptive disease, as the small- 
pox. 
Of pokket and of scabbe, and every sore, 
Shal every sheep be hool that of this welle 
Drinketh a draughte. 
Chaucer, Prol. to Pardoner's Tale, 1. 72. 
2. A pox; an eruptive disease, as smallpox. 
[Obsolete or vulgar.] 
If God punish the world with an evil pock, they immedi- 
ately paint a block and call it Job. to heal the disease. 
Tyndale, Ana. to Sir T. More, etc. (Parker Hoc., 1850X p. 105. 
Glad you got through the pock so well it takes a sec- 
ond time', some say. S. Judd, Margaret, II. 6. 
As soon as ever the pock began to decay it took away my 
eyes altogether. 
Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, I. 461. 
pock' 2 , n. A Scotch form of poke 3 . 
pockarredt (pok'ard), a. [< pock* + arr* + 
-erf 2 .] Pitted with the smallpox ; pock-pitted. 
pock-broken (pok'bro'kn), a. Broken out or 
marked with smallpox. 
pocked (pokt), a. [< pock* + -ed?.] Pitted; 
marked with pustules, or pits left by them, or 
with other small lesions, suggesting the appear- 
ance of the skin during or after smallpox. 
The posterior parts of both lungs were pocked with tu- 
bercle In the softening stage. Lancet, No. ;: i. :.'., p. 1314. 
And of this tufty, flaggy ground, pocked with hogs and 
boglets, one special nature is that it will not hold Impres- 
sions. It. D. Blackmore, Lorna Doone, lix. 
pocket (pok'et), ii. [< ME. pocket, poket, < AF. 
*poquet(Korm. pouquet), OF. assibilated pochct, 
pouchet, pa., also pochette (F. pochette), f., a 
pocket, dim. of poque, OF. assibilated pochc, a 
poke, pocket: see poke?, pouch.'] 1. A small 
pouch or bag; specifically, a small pouch in- 
serted in a garment for carrying money or 
other small articles. 
Cered pokett, sal peter, vltriole. 
Chaucer, Prol. to Canon's Yeoman's Tale, 1. 256. 
He took a little horn out of his pocket. 
And he blew 't baith loud and schlll. 
Lady Marjorit (Child's Ballads, II. 340). 
A fellow that has but a groat in his pocket may have a 
stomach capable of a ten-shilling ordinary. Comjrete.. 
About 25 Ibs. or 35 Ibs. of ungummed silk are enclosed 
In bags of coarse canvas, called pockets. Ure, Diet., I. 892. 
2. That which is carried in the pocket ; money ; 
means; financial resources. 
For tliu there were Fowls to be bought at every house 
where I lay, yet my pocket would not reach them. 
Dampier, Voyages, II. L 83. 
They [shippers) have been more cautions since, but have 
more than once again glutted our markets, and been pun- 
ished In pocket. Quarterly Ret., CXLV. 315. 
3. One of the small bags or nets at the corners 
and sides of some billiard-tables. 
At the commencement of the last century the billiard- 
table was square, having only three pockett for the balls to 
run In, situated on one of the sides. 
Strutt, Sports and Pastimes, p. 396. 
4. Any cavity or opening forming a receptacle : 
as, a brace-pofAret, a post-pocket, etc. 5. In a 
window fitted with sashes, the hole for a pulley- 
style. 6. In iiiniinii, an irregular cavity filled 
with veinstone and ore ; a swelling of the lode 
in an irregular manner, in which a more or less 
isolated mass of ore occurs. A pockety lode Is one 
In which the ore Is thus distributed, Instead of being dis- 
seminated somewhat uniformly through the body of the 
lode. 
7. A glen or hollow among mountains. [U. 8.] 
In many of the pocket* or glens in the sides of the hill 
the trees grow to some little height. 
T. Kouteteit, Hunting Trips, p. 130. 
8. A certain quantity of hops, wool, etc., equal 
to about 1G8 pounds. 9. In racing slang, a 
position in a race where one contestant is 
surrounded by three or more others, so that, 
owing to the impeding of his advance, he has 
no chance to win. 10. In soiil. and anal. : (n) 
A blind sac ; a sac-shaped cavity, (b) The ex- 
ternal cheek-pouch of a rodent, as of the ''<- 
iimyidte and Saecomyitlte. See nits under (ii- 
omyidte and I'lrogaathux. (c) The abdominal 
pocket-dial 
pouch of a marsupial, (rf) The abdominal 
cavity of a halibut or other fish. 11. The trap 
of a weir, in which the fish are retained or 
caught. The fish pass from the little pound Into the 
pocket, which Is a frame about 1C feet long and 10 feet 
wide, with sides of netting and a lioard floor. The fish are 
left In the pocket by the receding tide, and are taken out 
at low water. In a deep-water weir the flsh are not left by 
the tide, but must be lifted out with a seine or purse-net. 
See war. Patch-pocket, a pocket made by sewing a 
piece of stuff upon the outside of a garment, forming one 
side of the pocket, the other side being formed by the ma- 
terial of the garment Itself. The piece so sewed on Is usu- 
ally of the same material as the garment. Pocket bor- 
ough. See borough^. Pocket veto, a mode of veto of a 
bilfby a president, governor, or other executive officer, em- 
ployed at the end of a legislative session. If the President 
does not interpose the ordinary veto, a bill becomes law at 
the expiration of ten days ; but If the bill was passed with- 
in ten days of the adjournment of Congress, the President 
may retain ("pocket 1 ') the bill, which ls thus killed at the 
end of the session without the Interposition of a direct 
veto, and without risking the chances of its passage over 
the veto. [U. S. ] To be In pocket, to have gain or pro- 
fit To DO out Of pocket, to expend or lose money : as, 
to be out of pocket By a transaction. To have or carry 
in one'l pocket, to have complete control of. 
Dr. Prondle had interest with the government, and the 
man carried, as It were, Dr. Proudle in ha pocket. 
Trollope, barcnester Towers. 
To pick one's pocket, to pick pockets, to steal from 
one s pocket; be In the habit of stealing from the pockets 
of others. 
pocket (pok'et), v. t. K pocket, n. Cf. F. 
pochetcr, carry in the pocket.] 1. To put in a 
pocket or in one's pocket : as, to pocket a ball in 
billiards ; to pocket a penknife. 
On one occasion he pocketed very complacently a gratu- 
ity of fifty pistoles. Macaulay, Hist Eng., vii. 
He locked the desk, pocketed all the property, and went. 
Charlotte Bronte, Shirley, xxlx. 
2. To appropriate to one's self or for one's own 
use ; take possession of. 
They [kings) seized the goods of traders, sold them, and 
pocketed a large part of the proceeds. 
//. Spencer, Social Statics, p. 463. 
3. In racing slang, to surround in such a way 
as to leave no room for getting out or in front : 
as, he was pocketed at the beginning of the race. 
4. To carry in or as in the pocket; specifi- 
cally, of a president, governor, or other execu- 
tive officer, to prevent (a bill) from becoming 
law by retaining it unsigned. See pocket veto, 
under pocket, n. [Colloq., U. S.] 5. To ac- 
cept meekly or without protest or resentment ; 
submit to tamely or without demand for re- 
dress, apology, etc.: as, to pocket an insult. 
If I calmly pocket the abuse, I am laughed at 
Goldtmith, Citizen ol the World, MX. 
6. To conceal; give no indication of; sup- 
press: as, to pocket one's pride. 7. To con- 
trol or have the control of, as if carried in one's 
pocket: as, to pocket a borough. 
They (the English] say they will pocket our carrying trade 
as well as their own. Je/ennn, Correspondence, II. 11. 
He [the poor white of Virginia) was fond of his State 
and its great men, and loyal to some one of the blood 
families who contended for the honor of pocketing the 
borough In which he voted. Sehouter, Hist U. S., I. 10. 
8. In mech., placed in a case or pocket: as, a 
pocketed valve. See valre __ TO pocket up. (a) 
To put up In or as In a pocket ; bag. 
Ill step but up and fetch two handkerchiefs 
To pocket up some sweetmeats. 
Middleton, Women Beware Women, 111. 1. 
Letting Time pocket up the larger life. 
Lowell, Voyage to Vlnland. 
(it) To submit tamely to ; accept without protest or mur- 
mur. 
Patience hath trained me to pocket-up more heinous in- 
dignities, and even to digest an age of Iron. 
G. 11-ir,. -i. Four Letters, 1L 
pocket-book (pok'et-buk), n. 1. A book to be 
carried in the pocket ; a note-book. 
Nor let your Pocket-Book two Hands contain. 
Conyreve, tr. of Ovid's Art of Love, 111. 
2. A book worthy to be constantly used, small 
enough to be carried in the pocket. 
La Rochefoucauld ranks among the scanty nnmlier of 
pocket-book* to be read and re-read with ever new admira- 
tion, instruction, and delight Kncyc. Brit., XIV. 318. 
3. A small book or pouch, usually of flexible 
leather, divided into compartments, made for 
carrying money or memoranda in the pocket. 
4. Pecuniary resources, es] ..... ially of one JXT- 
M Hi. [In the last two senses usually without a 
hyphen.] 
pocket-clotht(pok'et-kl6th), ii. A pocket-hand- 
kerchief. 
Cannot I wipe mine eyes with the t&lr pocket-cloth, as if 
I wept for all your abominations? 
Tim Brown, Works, I. 3. (Darin.) 
pocket-dial ( pok'et -di'nl). w. A portable sun- 
dial of sniiill si/.r. Sec ring-dial. 
