pawn

¹

[ pawn ]

verb (used with object)

1. to deposit as security, as for money borrowed, especially with a pawnbroker:

   He raised the money by pawning his watch.

2. to pledge; stake; risk:

   to pawn one's life.

noun

1. the state of being deposited or held as security, especially with or by a pawnbroker:

   jewels in pawn.

2. something given or deposited as security, as for money borrowed.

   Synonyms: pledge

3. a person serving as security; hostage.
4. the act of pawning.

pawn

²

[ pawn ]

noun

1. Chess. one of eight men of one color and of the lowest value, usually moved one square at a time vertically and capturing diagonally.
2. someone who is used or manipulated to further another person's purposes.

   Synonyms: dupe, tool, puppet

pawn

¹

/ pɔːn /

verb

1. to deposit (an article) as security for the repayment of a loan, esp from a pawnbroker
2. to stake

   to pawn one's honour

noun

1. an article deposited as security
2. the condition of being so deposited (esp in the phrase in pawn )
3. a person or thing that is held as a security, esp a hostage
4. the act of pawning

pawn

²

/ pɔːn /

noun

1. 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 P Compare piece
2. a person, group, etc, manipulated by another

Derived Forms

• ˈpawnage, noun

Other Words From

• pawna·ble adjective
• pawn·er [paw, -ner], paw·nor [paw, -ner, -nawr], noun
• un·pawned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pawn¹

First recorded in 1490–1500; noun from Middle French pan; Old French pan(d), pant, apparently from West Germanic; compare Old Frisian pand, Old Saxon, Middle Dutch pant, German Pfand; verb derivative of the noun

Origin of pawn²

First recorded in 1375–1425; Middle English poun(e), paun, from Anglo-French, equivalent to Middle French poon, variant of paon, earlier pe(h)on “foot soldier,” literally, “walker”; peon ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of pawn¹

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

Origin of pawn²

C14: from Anglo-Norman poun, from Old French pehon, from Medieval Latin pedō infantryman, from Latin pēs foot

Example Sentences

He doesn’t want his children to be “used as pawns in a dangerous game played by reckless leaders for the sake of Iran.”

From BBC

She accused her ex-partner of using the children as "pawns in his game".

From BBC

“It’s a small necklace and won’t be easy to find but perhaps if people have a local pawn shop near them or someone who deals in silver or gold.”

From BBC

There are also mounting concerns that the victims of the floods have become pawns in the power struggle between Libya's rival governments - headquartered in the capital, Tripoli, and in the eastern city, Bengazi.

From BBC

She also revealed that she felt like Gottwald was “using me as a pawn” and that she was “annoyed” with both parties.

From Los Angeles Times