pawn
noun
[ pɔːn ]
• a chess piece of the smallest size and value, that moves one square forwards along its file if unobstructed (or two on the first move), or one square diagonally forwards when making a capture. Each player begins with eight pawns on the second rank, and can promote a pawn to become any other piece (typically a queen) if it reaches the opponent's end of the board.
Origin:
late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French poun, from medieval Latin pedo, pedon- ‘foot soldier’, from Latin pes, ped- ‘foot’. Compare with peon.
pawn
verb
• deposit (an object) with a pawnbroker as security for money lent.
• "I pawned the necklace to cover the loan"
Similar:
pledge,
deposit with a pawnbroker,
put in pawn,
give as security,
put up as security/collateral,
use as collateral,
mortgage,
hock,
put in hock,
pop,
pawn
noun
• an object left as security for money lent.
• "the bank did lend money upon pawns at low interest"
Origin:
late 15th century (as a noun): from Old French pan ‘pledge, security’, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch pand and German Pfand .
in pawn
• (of an object) held as security by a pawnbroker.
• "our money was gone and everything was in pawn"
