pawn
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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English [edit]
Pronunciation [edit]
- (UK) IPA: /pɔːn/
- Rhymes: -ɔːn
- (US) IPA: /pɔn/
- (cot–caught merger) IPA: /pɑn/
- (Southern American English) IPA: /pɑɒn/
- Homophone: porn (non-rhotic accents)
Etymology 1 [edit]
From Anglo-Norman paun, poun ( = Old French poon, paon), from Late Latin pedō(nem) (“footsoldier”), from Latin pēs, ped- (“foot”).
Noun [edit]
pawn (plural pawns)
- (chess) The most common chess piece, or a similar piece in a similar game. In chess each side has eight; moves are only forward, attacks are only forward diagonally or en passant.
- (colloquial) Someone who is being manipulated or used to some end, usually not the end that individual would prefer.
- Though a pawn of the gods, her departure is the precipitating cause of the Trojan War.
Translations [edit]
chess piece
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someone who is being manipulated
See also [edit]
Pawn (chess) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia:Pawn (chess)- Appendix:Chess_pieces
- (chess pieces) chessman, chess piece, chess piece, chesspiece; bishop, castle/rook, king, knight, pawn, queen (Category: en:Chess) [edit]
Verb [edit]
pawn (third-person singular simple present pawns, present participle pawning, simple past and past participle pawned)
- (video games) To render one's opponent a mere pawn, especially in a real-time strategy games.
Etymology 2 [edit]
From Middle French pan (“pledge, security”), apparently from a Germanic language (compare Middle Dutch pant, Old High German pfant).
Noun [edit]
pawn (plural pawns)
- The state of being held as security for a loan, or as a pledge.
- All our jewellery was in pawn by this stage.
- An instance of pawning something.
- (now rare) An item given as security on a loan, or as a pledge.
- 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, New York 2001, p. 106:
- Brokers, takers of pawns, biting userers, I will not admit; yet [...] I will tolerate some kind of usery.
- 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, New York 2001, p. 106:
- (rare) A pawn shop, pawnbroker.
Translations [edit]
instance of pawning something
item sold to a pawn shop
(rare) type of shop
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Verb [edit]
pawn (third-person singular simple present pawns, present participle pawning, simple past and past participle pawned)
- To pledge; to stake or wager.
- To give as security on a loan of money; especially, to deposit (something) at a pawn shop.
- 1965, Bob Dylan, Like a Rolling Stone
- But you'd better take your diamond ring, you'd better pawn it, babe.
- 1965, Bob Dylan, Like a Rolling Stone
Synonyms [edit]
- (to deposit at a pawn shop): hock
Translations [edit]
give as security for loan
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