pawn

plural pawns

1. uncountableThe state of being held as security for a loan, or as a pledge.

   All our jewellery was in pawn by this stage.

2. countableuncountableAn instance of pawning something.

   Redeem from broking pawn the blemish'd crown.

   1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]

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   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, […]

   1624, John Donne, “19. Prayer”, in Deuotions upon Emergent Occasions, and Seuerall Steps in My Sicknes: […], London: […] A[ugustine] M[atthews] for Thomas Iones, →OCLC, page 508

3. archaiccountableuncountableAn 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.

   c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]

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

   1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC

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

   1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Usury”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC

4. countablerareuncountableA pawnshop; pawnbroker.

present singular third person pawns · participle present pawning · participle past pawned · past pawned

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

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

   1965, Bob Dylan, Like a Rolling Stone

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   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.

   1904, Henry Warren, The Customer's Guide to Banking, page 7

   Synonyms: hock, lumber, pledge, spout, vamp

plural pawns

1. board gamesThe 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.

   2022, “2023 Laws of Chess”, in FIDE, archived from the original on 16 Mar 2025, pages 5, 21

2. idiomaticA person being manipulated by another, being used to some end.

   Near-synonym: chess piece

   2 more examples

   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.

   2022 December 14, Mel Holley, “Network News: Strikes go on as RMT rejects RDG's "detrimental" offer”, in RAIL, number 972, page 9

   Synonyms: chess piece

plural pawns

1. alternativecountableuncountableAlternative form of paan.

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

   1832, Meer Hassan Ali, Observations on the Mussulmauns of India

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   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.

   1892, Chambers's Journal, volume 69, page 320

plural pawns

1. A gallery.

present singular third person pawns · participle present pawning · participle past pawned · past pawned

1. alternativevideo gamesAlternative spelling of pwn.