pawn Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an article deposited as security
  2. noun a person used by another to gain an end
    cat's-paw; instrument.
  3. noun (chess) the least powerful piece; moves only forward and captures only to the side; it can be promoted to a more powerful piece if it reaches the 8th rank
  4. noun borrowing and leaving an article as security for repayment of the loan
  5. verb leave as a guarantee in return for money
    soak; hock.
    • pawn your grandfather's gold watch

WordNet

Pawn noun
Definitions
  1. See Pan, the masticatory.
Pawn noun
Etymology
OE. paune, poun, OF. peon, poon, F. pion, LL. pedo a foot soldier, fr. L. pes, pedis, foot. See Foot, and cf. Pioneer, Peon.
Definitions
  1. (Chess) A man or piece of the lowest rank.
Pawn noun
Etymology
OF. pan pledge, assurance, skirt, piece, F. pan skirt, lappet, piece, from L. pannus. See Pane.
Definitions
  1. Anything delivered or deposited as security, as for the payment of money borrowed, or of a debt; a pledge. See Pledge, n., 1.
    As for mortgaging or pawning, . . . men will not take pawns without use [i.e., interest]. Bacon.
  2. State of being pledged; a pledge for the fulfillment of a promise. R.
    Redeem from broking pawn the blemish'd crown. Shak.
    As the morning dew is a pawn of the evening fatness. Donne.
  3. A stake hazarded in a wager. Poetic
    My life I never held but as a pawn To wage against thy enemies. Shak.
Pawn transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Pawned ; present participle & verbal noun Pawning
Definitions
  1. To give or deposit in pledge, or as security for the payment of money borrowed; to put in pawn; to pledge; as, to pawn one's watch. = to hock (colloq.)
    And pawned the last remaining piece of plate. Dryden.
  2. To pledge for the fulfillment of a promise; to stake; to risk; to wager; to hazard.
    Pawning his honor to obtain his lust. Shak.

Webster 1913