pawn
1
[ pawn ]
/ pɔn /
verb (used with object)
to deposit as security, as for money borrowed, especially with a pawnbroker: He raised the money by pawning his watch.
to pledge; stake; risk: to pawn one's life.
noun
the state of being deposited or held as security, especially with or by a pawnbroker: jewels in pawn.
something given or deposited as security, as for money borrowed.
a person serving as security; hostage.
the act of pawning.
VIDEO FOR PAWN
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When you call another person a "pawn," is it an insult ... or a compliment?
Origin of pawn
1
1490–1500; (noun) < Middle French
pan; Old French
pan(d),
pant, apparently < West Germanic; compare Old Frisian
pand, Old Saxon, Middle Dutch
pant, German
Pfand; (v.) derivative of the noun
OTHER WORDS FROM pawn
pawn·a·ble, adjective pawn·er [paw-ner] /ˈpɔ nər/, paw·nor [paw-ner, -nawr] /ˈpɔ nər, -nɔr/, noun un·pawned, adjectiveWords nearby pawn
pavor nocturnus,
pavé,
paw,
pawky,
pawl,
pawn,
pawn off,
pawn ticket,
pawnage,
pawnbroker,
pawnbroking
Definition for pawn (2 of 2)
pawn
2
[ pawn ]
/ pɔn /
noun
Chess.
one of eight men of one color and of the lowest value, usually moved one square at a time vertically and capturing diagonally.
someone who is used or manipulated to further another person's purposes.
Origin of pawn
2
1325–75; Middle English
poun < Anglo-French, equivalent to Middle French
poon, variant of
paon, earlier
pe(h)on literally, walker; see
peon1
Example sentences from the Web for pawn
British Dictionary definitions for pawn (1 of 2)
pawn
1
/ (pɔːn) /
verb (tr)
to deposit (an article) as security for the repayment of a loan, esp from a pawnbroker
to stake
to pawn one's honour
noun
an article deposited as security
the condition of being so deposited (esp in the phrase in pawn)
a person or thing that is held as a security, esp a hostage
the act of pawning
Derived forms of pawn
pawnage, nounWord Origin for pawn
C15: from Old French
pan security, from Latin
pannus cloth, apparently because clothing was often left as a surety; compare Middle Flemish
paen pawn, German
Pfand pledge
British Dictionary definitions for pawn (2 of 2)
pawn
2
/ (pɔːn) /
noun
a chessman of the lowest theoretical value, limited to forward moves of one square at a time with the option of two squares on its initial move: it captures with a diagonal move only
Abbreviation: P Compare piece (def. 12)
a person, group, etc, manipulated by another
Word Origin for pawn
C14: from Anglo-Norman
poun, from Old French
pehon, from Medieval Latin
pedō infantryman, from Latin
pēs foot