pawn
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Contents
English[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
- (UK) IPA(key): /pɔːn/
- Rhymes: -ɔːn
- (US) IPA(key): /pɔn/
- (cot–caught merger) IPA(key): /pɑn/
- (Southern American English) IPA(key): /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.
- 1908, W. B. M. Ferguson, chapter 1, Zollenstein:
- “I'm through with all pawn-games,” I laughed. “Come, let us have a game of lansquenet. Either I will take a farewell fall out of you or you will have your sevenfold revenge”.
Synonyms[edit]
- See also Wikisaurus:pawn
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; 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.
- Shakespeare
- My life I never held but as a pawn / To wage against thy enemies.
- An instance of pawning something.
- Shakespeare
- Redeem from broking pawn the blemish'd crown.
- John Donne
- As the morning dew is a pawn of the evening fatness, so, O Lord, let this day's comfort be the earnest of to-morrow's.
- Shakespeare
- (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.
- Francis Bacon
- As for mortgaging or pawning, […] men will not take pawns without use [i.e. interest].
- 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, New York 2001, p. 106:
- (rare) A pawn shop, pawnbroker.
Translations[edit]
instance of pawning something
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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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Etymology 3[edit]
Noun[edit]
pawn (uncountable)
- Alternative form of paan.
See also[edit]
Anagrams[edit]
Categories:
- English terms with homophones
- English terms derived from Anglo-Norman
- English terms derived from Late Latin
- English terms derived from Latin
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- en:Chess
- English colloquialisms
- English verbs
- en:Video games
- English terms derived from Middle French
- English terms with rare senses
- English uncountable nouns
