pawn

pawn¹ Definition

pawn (pôn)

noun

anything given as security, as for a debt, performance of an action, etc.; pledge; guaranty
a hostage
the state of being pledged to put a ring in pawn
the act of pawning

Etymology: LME paun < MFr pan, piece of cloth < L pannus, cloth (? used as medium of exchange): see pane

transitive verb

pawn¹ Related Forms

pawn′·age noun pawn′er noun or paw′·nor

pawn¹ Idioms

pawn off

palm off (see phrase under palm)

pawn² Definition

pawn (pôn)

noun

a chessman of the lowest value: it can be moved only forward and one square at a time (or two squares on its first move), but it captures with a diagonal move
a person used to advance another's purposes; tool

Etymology: ME poun < OFr peon < ML pedo (gen. pedonis), foot soldier < LL, one who has flat feet < L pes, foot

pawn Synonyms

A person used for another's purposes
cat's-paw, dupe, fool; see tool 2, victim 2.
Something given as security
pledge, collateral, security; see pledge. See syn. study at pledge.

pawn Synonyms

deposit, pledge, give in earnest, hock*, hang up*, leave with uncle*, lay in lavender*, soak*, pop*; see also sell 1.

pawn Law Definition

An item of personal property given to secure a monetary loan; something held as security against a monetary loan.

To borrow money against a piece of personal property that is held by the lender as security.

pawn Usage Examples

Preposition: on

chessboard: They can be merely cash-cows to local authorities and pawns on the chessboard of traffic management to planners.

Adjective modifier

unwitting: Throughout time, man has been an unwitting pawn in the battle waged between heaven and hell.
unwilling: The island of Melos found itself an unwilling pawn in a vicious struggle between the Athenian and Spartan alliances.
mere: They fail to realize to what extent they are mere pawns in the game.
political: The disabled person gets stuck in the middle like some kind of political pawn.
white: As in my case, where the white pawn attacks me from behind.

Converse of object

become: No-one should ever become a pawn in our ' game of life ' .
pass: Still suffering from less space and faced with a central passed pawn tho he could not really mount a serious winning challenge.
win: In round 9, I won a pawn against the fifteen year-old Indian girl, only to blunder it back.
take: It is like they are playing a chess game but have had all their pawns taken away before they start.
have: They played on, but with Kevin now having a pawn for the exchange, the game was soon drawn.

Modifies a noun

broker: This allows you to hand write in the pawn broker 's entries.
shop: We also regrettably have two pawn shops, which is a worrying sign of the times.
ticket: A soldier's blouse, with sergeant ' stripes, plus blood stains was found together with a pawn ticket for a Rolex watch.
structure: Learn the key techniques and classic moves of the Chess Master, including basic and advanced tactics, combinations, sacrifices and pawn structures.

Preposition: in

game: She was herself a kind of toy, a pawn in a chess game.
struggle: Profit sharing in Iran became a pawn in a political struggle, involving riots, bloodshed, international intrigue.
battle: Children are also prone to becoming pawns in battles surrounding the ending of a marriage.
hand: In my mind's eye, I decided to hold one pawn in each hand.

Preposition: of

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