Eggcorn Forum

‘Encroaching’ is the invasion of a space by an undesirable. Ne’er-do-wells often lurk, lie in wait, or skulk around in corners, waiting to sneak forward a bit when the proprietor’s back is turned. The best posture for skulking is the ‘crouch’.

Etymologically, the ‘croach’ of encroach is ‘croc’ “hook”, related to (shepherd’s) crook, crooked, crochet.

Some citations may be simple misprints or typos.

History of the Boyd Family and Descendants (1912) p.222 :
“By the time he had succeeded in securing the friendless children a place of safety, the fire had now encrouched upon the last chance left for him on the burning boat.”

Frommer’s South America (2006) p. 356 http://books.google.com/books?id=n0XFBY … ed&f=false :
“The Amazon Village is a well-run operation…now alas being seriously encrouched upon by ever-growing cattle operations”

“RBA paves way for higher rates” August 7, 2009 Sydney Morning Herald http://www.smh.com.au/small-business/fi … -eccn.html
The Reserve Bank of Australia has upgraded its growth forecasts out to the end of 2010 and says official interest rates could move to a “more normal’’, or higher, setting if the encrouching global and domestic economic recoveries prove durable.