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pawn

n. · v.
US //ˈpɔn// UK //pˈɔːn// pawn
  1. 1 chess piece (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Sport

    the smallest and most common piece in the game of chess.

    the most numerous and least powerful piece in chess, capable of moving forward one square at a time and capturing diagonally.

    Example

    He moved his pawn forward to open up the center of the board.

    Example

    In the endgame, a single passed pawn can often be the deciding factor between a victory and a draw.

  2. 2 manipulated person (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a person who is used by someone more powerful to achieve a goal.

    a person used by others for their own purposes, typically without the individual's full awareness of the larger scheme.

    Example

    The young clerk realized he was just a pawn in the manager's plan to steal money.

    Example

    The junior diplomat felt like a pawn in a much larger geopolitical game that he could neither influence nor fully understand.
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  1. 3 to trade for a loan (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to leave a valuable item at a shop in exchange for a loan of money.

    to deposit an object as security for a loan, with the understanding that the lender may sell it if the loan is not repaid.

    Example

    He had to pawn his watch to pay for his train ticket home.

    Example

    Desperate for capital to keep the business afloat, the owner was forced to pawn several family heirlooms at a fraction of their market value.
  2. 4 security for a loan (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Formal Law

    the state of an item being held by a lender until a debt is paid.

    the state of being held as security or a pledge for a loan; often used in the phrase 'in pawn'.

    Example

    The family jewels have been in pawn for over three months.

    Example

    The contract stipulated that the title deeds would remain in pawn until the final installment of the debt was cleared in full.
Etymology 1

From Middle English paun, pawyn, pawnd, from Old French pan, pant (“pledge for a payment”), from a Germanic language, perhaps Frankish *pand (“deposit, security, pledge”), further origin uncertain. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Pound (“deposit, pledge, pawn”), West Frisian pân (“pawn”), Dutch pand (“pledge, pawn”), German Low German Pand (“deposit, pledge, pawn”), German Pfand (“deposit, pledge, pawn”), Swedish pant (“pledge, pawn”), Faroese pantur (“security, lien”), Icelandic pantur (“pledge, security, pawn”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English pown, from Anglo-Norman poun, paun (“footman”), from Late Latin pedōnem (“pedestrian”), derived from Latin ped- (“foot”). Doublet of peon.

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