Pawn

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /pɔːn/
• Rhymes: -ɔːn
• US IPA: /pÉ”n/
• cot-caught IPA: /pÉ‘n/
• Southern American English IPA: /pÉ‘É’n/
• Homophones: porn non-rhotic accents

From Anglo-Norman paun, poun ("") ( = Old French poon, paon), from Late Latin pedō(nem) ("footsoldier"), from Latin pēs, ped- ("foot").

Full definition of pawn

Noun

1. (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.
2. (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, Zollenstein Chapter 1, “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

Verb

1. (video games) To render one's opponent a mere pawn, especially in a real-time strategy games.

From Middle French pan ("pledge, security"), apparently from a Germanic language (compare Middle Dutch pant, Old High German pfant).

Noun

1. The state of being held as security for a loan, or as a pledge.All our jewellery was in pawn by this stage.
• ShakespeareMy life I never held but as a pawn
  To wage against thy enemies.
2. An instance of pawning something.
• ShakespeareRedeem from broking pawn the blemish'd crown.
• John DonneAs 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.
3. (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 BaconAs for mortgaging or pawning, ... men will not take pawns without use interest.
4. (rare) A pawn shop, pawnbroker.

Verb

1. To pledge; to stake or wager.
2. To give as security on a loan of money; especially, to deposit (something) at a pawn shop.
• 1965, Bob Dylan, Like a Rolling StoneBut you'd better take your diamond ring, you'd better pawn it, babe.

Synonyms

• (to deposit at a pawn shop) hock

Noun

1. Alternative form of paan

Anagrams

• WPAN