pawn

¹ American  

[pawn] / pɔn /

verb (used with object)

1. to deposit as security, as for money borrowed, especially with a pawnbroker.

   He raised the money by pawning his watch.

2. to pledge; stake; risk.

   to pawn one's life.

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noun

1. the state of being deposited or held as security, especially with or by a pawnbroker.

   jewels in pawn.

2. something given or deposited as security, as for money borrowed.

   Synonyms:

   pledge

3. a person serving as security; hostage.

4. the act of pawning.

pawn ² American  

[pawn] / pɔn /

noun

1. Chess.  one of eight men of one color and of the lowest value, usually moved one square at a time vertically and capturing diagonally.

2. someone who is used or manipulated to further another person's purposes.

   Synonyms:

   dupe , tool , puppet

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pawn ¹ British  

/ pɔːn /

verb

1. to deposit (an article) as security for the repayment of a loan, esp from a pawnbroker

2. to stake

   to pawn one's honour

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noun

1. an article deposited as security

2. the condition of being so deposited (esp in the phrase in pawn )

3. a person or thing that is held as a security, esp a hostage

4. the act of pawning

pawn ² British  

/ pɔːn /

noun

1.  P.  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 Compare piece

2. a person, group, etc, manipulated by another

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Other Word Forms

• pawnable adjective
• pawnage noun
• pawner noun
• pawnor noun
• unpawned adjective

Etymology

Origin of pawn¹

First recorded in 1490–1500; noun from Middle French pan; Old French pan(d), pant, apparently from West Germanic; compare Old Frisian pand, Old Saxon, Middle Dutch pant, German Pfand; verb derivative of the noun

Origin of pawn²

First recorded in 1375–1425; Middle English poun(e), paun, from Anglo-French, equivalent to Middle French poon, variant of paon, earlier pe(h)on “foot soldier,” literally, “walker”; peon ¹

Example Sentences

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also insisted Europe was "not a pawn, but a sovereign actor, with its own interests and values."

From BBC

Her face is never clearly shown, to emphasize that Dorothy is merely a useful but clueless pawn in the political machinations of Oz.

From Barron's

And is Gabriel a valuable asset or a disposable pawn?

From The Wall Street Journal

Nick Daniels, the president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said the controllers are being used as political pawns in the political standoff.

From BBC

But many American farmers are still feeling like pawns.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• dupe
• patsy
• puppet
• stooge