pawn

noun

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

   “All our jewellery was in pawn by this stage.”

2. (countable, uncountable)An instance of pawning something.

   “Redeem from broking pawn the blemish'd crown.”

   “As therefore the morning devv, is a pavvne of the evenings fatneſſe, ſo, O Lord, let this daies comfort be the earneſt of to morrowes, […]”

3. (archaic, countable, uncountable)An item given as security on a loan, or as a pledge.

   “My life I never held but as a pawn / To wage against thy enemies.”

   “Brokers, takers of pawns, biting userers, I will not admit; yet […] I will tolerate some kind of usery.”

   “As for mortgaging or pawning,[…]men will not take pawns without use [i.e. interest].”

4. (countable, rare, uncountable)A pawnshop; pawnbroker.
5. The most numerous chess piece, or a similar piece in a similar game. In chess, each side starts with eight; moves are only forward, and attacks are only diagonally or en passant.

   “The pawn may move forward to the square immediately in front of it on the same file, provided that this square is unoccupied […] Consequently, in the initial position the white pieces and pawns are placed on the first and second ranks; the black pieces and pawns on the eighth and seventh ranks.”

6. (idiomatic)A person being manipulated by another, being used to some end.

   “Near-synonym: chess piece”

   “Though a pawn of the gods, her departure is the precipitating cause of the Trojan War.”

   “He delivered a broadside to the RMT leadership, saying: "This response to a significantly enhanced offer exposes their true priority - using the British public and NR workers as pawns in a fight with the Government.”

7. (alt-of, alternative, countable, uncountable)Alternative form of paan.

   “A tray filled with pawns, prepared with the usual ingredients, as lime cuttie (a bitter gum), betel-nut, tobacco, spices, &c.”

   “To our English taste, pawn is very offensive; but the natives of India relish it, and regard it as a necessity. It is much eaten by Mohammedans of both sexes, and by the natives of Bengal.”

8. A gallery.

verb

1. (transitive)To pledge; to stake or wager.
2. (transitive)To give as security on a loan of money; especially, to deposit (something) at a pawn shop.

   “A certain, and probably an appreciable, proportion of his so-called money at call and short notice would consist of fortnightly advances made to members of the Stock Exchange against pawned stocks and shares.”

   “But you'd better take your diamond ring, you'd better pawn it, babe.”

3. (alt-of, alternative)Alternative form of pwn.