English Dictionary
Definition of “pawn”
1pawn1 (pɔːn
)
Definitions
verb (tr)
- to deposit (an article) as security for the repayment of a loan, esp from a pawnbroker
- to stake ⇒
to pawn one's honour
noun
- an article deposited as security
- the condition of being so deposited (esp in the phrase in pawn)
- a person or thing that is held as a security, esp a hostage
- the act of pawning
Alternative Forms
ˈpawnage noun Word Origin
C15: from Old French pan security, from Latin pannus cloth, apparently because clothing was often left as a surety; compare Middle Flemish paen pawn, German Pfand pledge
2pawn2 (pɔːn)
Definitions
noun
- a chessman of the lowest theoretical value, limited to forward moves of one square at a time with the option of two squares on its initial move: it captures with a diagonal move only P Compare piece (sense 12)
- a person, group, etc, manipulated by another
Word Origin
C14: from Anglo-Norman poun, from Old French pehon, from Medieval Latin pedō infantryman, from Latin pēs foot
Usage examples
He was a player in this game, trying to move her around like a pawn on a board.
Dobbs, Michael, The Touch of Innocents (1994)But Fritz surprised Kasparov by snatching his pawn on the 31st move.
New Scientist (2003)Nor were the courts receptive to attempts to pawn off responsibility on the defence.
Globe and Mail (2003)He added: "She has become a pawn in a political football game.
Belfast Telegraph (2005)Perhaps for too long you have been regarding yourself as a pawn moved by some malicious fate.
Lumsden, Robert, 23 Steps to Successful Achievement (1972)
