Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense pawns, present participle pawning, past tense, past participle pawned
1. verb
If you pawn something that you own, you leave it with a pawnbroker, who gives you money for it and who can sell it if you do not pay back the money before a certain time.
He is contemplating pawning his watch. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: hock [informal, mainly US], pop [British, informal], stake, mortgage More Synonyms of pawn
2. countable noun
In chess, a pawn is the smallest and least valuable playing piece. Each player has eight pawns at the start of the game.
3. countable noun
If you say that someone is using you as a pawn, you mean that they are using you for their own advantage.
It looks as though he is being used as a political pawn by the President.
They are the pawns in the power game played by their unseen captors.
Synonyms: tool, instrument [informal], toy, creature More Synonyms of pawn
More Synonyms of pawn
pawn in British English1
(pɔːn)
verb(transitive)
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
noun
3.
an article deposited as security
4.
the condition of being so deposited (esp in the phrase in pawn)
5.
a person or thing that is held as a security, esp a hostage
6.
the act of pawning
Derived forms
pawnage (ˈpawnage)
noun
Word origin
C15: from Old French pan security, from Latin pannus cloth, apparently because clothing was often left as a surety; compare Middle Flemishpaen pawn, German Pfand pledge
pawn in British English2
(pɔːn)
noun
1.
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
Abbreviation: P. Compare piece (sense 12)
2.
a person, group, etc, manipulated by another
Word origin
C14: from Anglo-Norman poun, from Old French pehon, from Medieval Latin pedō infantryman, from Latin pēs foot
pawn in American English1
(pɔn)
noun
1.
anything given as security, as for a debt, performance of an action, etc.; pledge; guaranty
2.
a hostage
3.
the state of being pledged
to put a ring in pawn
4.
the act of pawning
verb transitive
5.
to give as security; put in pawn
6.
to stake, wager, or risk
to pawn one's honor
SIMILAR WORDS: pledge
Idioms:
pawn off
Derived forms
pawnage (ˈpawnage)
noun
pawner (ˈpawner)
noun or ˈpawnor
Word origin
LME paun < MFr pan, piece of cloth < L pannus, cloth (? used as medium of exchange): see pane
pawn in American English2
(pɔn)
noun
1.
a chessman of the lowest value: it can be moved only forward and one square at atime (or two squares on its first move)
2.
a person used to advance another's purposes
Word origin
ME poun < OFr peon < ML pedo (gen. pedonis), foot soldier < LL, one who has flat feet < L pes, foot
Word lists with
pawn
chess
In other languages
pawn
British English: pawn VERB
If you pawn something that you own, you leave it with a pawnbroker, who gives you money for it and who can sell it if you do not pay back the money before a certain time.
He is contemplating pawning his watch.
American English: pawn
Brazilian Portuguese: empenhar
Chinese: 典当
European Spanish: empeñar
French: mettre en gage
German: versetzen
Italian: dare in pegno
Japanese: 質に入れる
Korean: 전당포에 잡히다
European Portuguese: empenhar
Latin American Spanish: empeñar
British English: pawn NOUN
In chess, a pawn is the smallest and least valuable playing piece.
American English: pawn
Brazilian Portuguese: peão
Chinese: 兵
European Spanish: peón
French: pion
German: Bauer
Italian: pedone
Japanese: ポーン
Korean: >졸장기의
European Portuguese: peão
Latin American Spanish: peón
All related terms of 'pawn'
pawn off
→ palm off (see phrase under → palm 2 )
pawn shop
A pawn shop is a pawnbroker's shop.
pawn ticket
a receipt for goods pawned
hanging pawn
one of two or more adjacent pawns on central half-open files with no pawns of the same colour on the files immediately to left and right of them
isolated pawn
a pawn without pawns of the same colour on neighbouring files
Chinese translation of 'pawn'
pawn
(pɔːn)
n(c)
(Chess) 卒 (zú) (名, míng)
(fig) 工具 (gōngjù) (件, jiàn)
vt
典当(當) (diǎndàng)
(verb)
Definition
to deposit (an article) as security for money borrowed
He pawned his wedding ring.
Synonyms
hock (informal, mainly US)
pop (British, informal)
stake
He has staked his reputation on the outcome.
mortgage
deposit
pledge
He asked her to pledge the house as security for the loan.
hazard
wager
People had wagered a good deal of money on his winning the championship.
gage (archaic)
(noun)
Definition
an article deposited as security
Synonyms
security
The banks will pledge the land as security.
bond
I'm not about to betray my bond with my brother.
guarantee
He had to give a personal guarantee on the loan to his company.
pledge
items held in pledge for loans
assurance
endowment assurance
collateral
Many people here cannot borrow from banks because they lack collateral.
gage
guaranty
(noun)
Definition
a person or thing manipulated by someone else
They are being used as political pawns.
Synonyms
tool
He became the tool of the security services.
instrument (informal)
The Council was an instrument of Government.
toy
He was really too old for children's toys.
creature
We are not merely creatures of our employers.
puppet
The ministers have denied that they are puppets of a foreign government.
dupe
He was accused of being a dupe of the communists.
stooge (slang)
He has vehemently rejected claims that he is a government stooge.
plaything
an untidy garden scattered with children's playthings
cat's-paw
Additional synonyms
in the sense of assurance
Definition
insurance that provides for events that are certain to happen, such as death
endowment assurance
Synonyms
insurance,
cover,
security,
guarantee,
protection,
provision,
coverage,
safeguard,
warranty,
indemnity,
indemnification
in the sense of bond
Definition
a written or spoken agreement, esp. a promise
I'm not about to betray my bond with my brother.
Synonyms
agreement,
word,
promise,
contract,
guarantee,
pledge,
obligation,
compact,
covenant
in the sense of collateral
Definition
security pledged for the repayment of a loan
Many people here cannot borrow from banks because they lack collateral.
Synonyms
security,
guarantee,
deposit,
assurance,
surety,
pledge
Nearby words of
pawn
pave the way for something or someone
pavement
paw
pawn
pay
pay for something
pay lip service to something or someone
Synonyms of 'pawn'
pawn
Explore 'pawn' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of creature
Definition
a person or thing controlled by another
We are not merely creatures of our employers.
Synonyms
minion,
tool,
instrument (informal),
puppet,
cohort (US),
dependant,
retainer,
hanger-on,
lackey,
hireling
in the sense of dupe
He was accused of being a dupe of the communists.
Synonyms
puppet,
tool,
instrument (informal),
pawn,
stooge (slang),
cat's-paw
in the sense of gage
Synonyms
pledge,
security,
bond,
earnest (old-fashioned),
guarantee,
deposit,
token,
pawn,
surety
in the sense of guarantee
Definition
something that makes a specified condition or outcome certain
He had to give a personal guarantee on the loan to his company.
Synonyms
security,
earnest (old-fashioned),
collateral,
surety
in the sense of instrument
Definition
a person used by another to gain an end
The Council was an instrument of Government.
Synonyms
puppet,
tool,
pawn,
toy,
creature,
dupe,
stooge (slang),
plaything,
cat's-paw
in the sense of plaything
Definition
a toy
an untidy garden scattered with children's playthings
Synonyms
toy,
amusement,
game,
pastime,
trifle,
trinket,
bauble,
gimcrack,
gewgaw
in the sense of pledge
Definition
to give (one's word or property) as a guarantee
He asked her to pledge the house as security for the loan.
Synonyms
bind,
guarantee,
mortgage,
engage,
gage (archaic)
in the sense of pledge
Definition
the condition of being used as security
items held in pledge for loans
Synonyms
guarantee,
security,
deposit,
bail,
bond,
collateral,
earnest (old-fashioned),
pawn,
gage,
surety
in the sense of puppet
Definition
a person or state that appears independent but is controlled by another
The ministers have denied that they are puppets of a foreign government.
Synonyms
pawn,
tool,
instrument (informal),
creature,
dupe,
gull (archaic),
figurehead,
mouthpiece,
stooge (slang),
cat's-paw
in the sense of stake
Definition
to risk (something, such as money) on a result
He has staked his reputation on the outcome.
Synonyms
bet,
gamble,
wager,
chance,
risk,
venture,
hazard,
jeopardize,
imperil,
put on the line
Additional synonyms
in the sense of stooge
Definition
someone who is taken advantage of by someone in a superior position
He has vehemently rejected claims that he is a government stooge.
Synonyms
pawn,
puppet,
fall guy (informal),
butt,
foil,
patsy (slang, US, Canadian),
dupe,
or woman or person">henchman or woman or person,
lackey
in the sense of toy
Definition
an object designed for children to play with, such as a doll or model car
He was really too old for children's toys.
Synonyms
plaything,
game,
doll
in the sense of wager
Definition
to bet (something, esp. money) on the outcome of an event or activity
People had wagered a good deal of money on his winning the championship.