I. ˈpȯn, ˈpän noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English paun, modification (probably influenced by MFlemish paen pawn, from Middle French pan ) of Middle French pan, probably from pan piece of cloth, pane; from the practice of holding a garment as security — more at pane
1.
a. : something delivered to or deposited with another as security for a loan
b. : a person left as a hostage
he must leave behind for pawns, his mother, wife, and son — John Dryden
2. : the state of being pledged
the hock shop continued to take into pawn things to charm — John McNulty
3.
a. : something used as a pledge : earnest , guaranty
the new school is the pawn given by the community to its children
b. : gage 2
4. : the act of pawning
5. : a slave held as security for debt
Synonyms: see pledge
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to give or deposit in pledge or as security for the payment of a loan, a debt, or for the performance of some action : put in pawn : pledge , stake , wager
in the end he had to pawn that coat — Vicki Baum
pawn my victories, all my honors to you — Shakespeare
he now pawned his royal word — T.B.Macaulay
exploited their own shame, pawning their dignity for profit — Lillian Smith
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English pown, poune, from Middle French poon, from Medieval Latin pedon-, pedo foot soldier, from Late Latin, one who has broad feet, from Latin ped-, pes foot — more at foot
1.
a. : one of the chessmen of least value having the power to move only one square forward at a time or at option two on its first move and to capture an enemy only on either of the two squares diagonally forward
b. : a counter in Polish checkers
2. : one that can be used often to his own disadvantage to further the purposes of another
have become pawns in the hands of those who thrive on agitation and unrest — Elijah Adlow
innocent-eyed but willing pawn of the family — Leo Gershoy
IV. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English poune, from Middle French poun, paon, from Latin pavon-, pavo peacock
archaic : peacock
V. noun
( -s )
Etymology: probably from Middle Dutch paen hall, vestibule, from Middle French pan pane — more at pane
: a gallery or covered passage especially in a bazaar