PAWN

pawn

(noun) borrowing and leaving an article as security for repayment of the loan

pawn

(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

instrument, pawn, cat's-paw

(noun) a person used by another to gain an end

pawn

(noun) an article deposited as security

pawn, soak, hock

(verb) leave as a guarantee in return for money; “pawn your grandfather’s gold watch”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology 1

Noun

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, and attacks are only forward diagonally or en passant.

(figurative) Someone who is being manipulated or used to some end.

Synonyms

• See also pawn

Etymology 2

Noun

pawn (countable and uncountable, plural pawns)

(uncountable) The state of being held as security for a loan, or as a pledge.

An instance of pawning something.

(now rare) An item given as security on a loan, or as a pledge.

(rare) A pawnshop; pawnbroker.

Verb

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.

Synonyms

• (to deposit at a pawn shop): hock

Etymology 3

Noun

pawn (countable and uncountable, plural pawns)

Alternative form of paan

Etymology 4

Noun

pawn (plural pawns)

A gallery.

Etymology 5

Verb

pawn (third-person singular simple present pawns, present participle pawning, simple past and past participle pawned)

(video games) Alternative form of pwn

Anagrams

• WPAN

Source: Wiktionary


Pawn, n.

Definition: See Pan, the masticatory.

Pawn, n. Etym: [OE. paune, poun, OF. peon, poon, F. pion, LL. pedo a foot soldier, fr. L. pes, pedis, foot. See Foot, and cf. Pioneer, Peon.] (Chess)

Definition: A man or piece of the lowest rank.

Pawn, n. Etym: [OF. pan pledge, assurance, skirt, piece, F. pan skirt, lappet, piece, from L. pannus. See Pane.]

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. In pawn, At pawn, in the state of being pledged. "Sweet wife, my honor is at pawn." Shak.

– Pawn ticket, a receipt given by the pawnbroker for an article pledged.

Pawn, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pawned; p. pr. & vb. n. Pawning.]

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. 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.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

28 March 2024

HUDDLED

(adjective) crowded or massed together; “give me...your huddled masses”; “the huddled sheep turned their backs against the wind”


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Coffee Trivia

Coffee is a brewed drink prepared from roasted coffee beans, the seeds of berries from certain Coffea species. When coffee berries turn from green to bright red – indicating ripeness – they are picked, processed, and dried. Dried coffee seeds are roasted to varying degrees, depending on the desired flavor.

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