[ˈpoə̯n] ~ [ˈpʊə̯n] New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore
[ˈpän] Upper Midwestern US
/ˈpɔn/ without the cot–caught merger
[ˈpɑn] ~ [ˈpɒn] (Inland-Northern-American)
Etymology
From Middle English paun, pawyn, pawnd, from Old French pan, pant (“pledge for a payment”), from a Germanic language, perhaps Frankish *pand (“deposit, security, pledge”), further origin uncertain. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Pound (“deposit, pledge, pawn”), West Frisian pân (“pawn”), Dutch pand (“pledge, pawn”), German Low German Pand (“deposit, pledge, pawn”), German Pfand (“deposit, pledge, pawn”), Swedish pant (“pledge, pawn”), Faroese pantur (“security, lien”), Icelandic pantur (“pledge, security, pawn”).
Meanings
(uncountable) The state of being held as security for a loan, or as a pledge.
All our jewellery was in pawn by this stage.
(countable, uncountable) An 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]:
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:
(archaic, countable, uncountable) An item given as security on a loan, or as a pledge.
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:
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]:
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:
(countable, rare, uncountable) A pawnshop; pawnbroker.
es empeño (instance of pawning something) · ka ლომბარდი ((rare) type of shop — see also pawnshop) · cmn 典當 /典当 (instance of pawning something) · de Verpfändung (instance of pawning something) · fi pantti (item sold to a pawn shop) · de Pfandhaus ((rare) type of shop — see also pawnshop) · nl pandjes ((rare) type of shop — see also pawnshop) · cmn 典押 (instance of pawning something) · ko 고물상 ((rare) type of shop — see also pawnshop) · it banco dei pegni ((rare) type of shop — see also pawnshop) · bg зало́г (item sold to a pawn shop) · gl casa de empeños ((rare) type of shop — see also pawnshop) · el ενέχυρο (item sold to a pawn shop) · da pantelåner ((rare) type of shop — see also pawnshop) · fi panttilainaamo ((rare) type of shop — see also pawnshop) · nl verpanding (instance of pawning something) · he עבוט (item sold to a pawn shop) · de Leihhaus ((rare) type of shop — see also pawnshop) · da pant (item sold to a pawn shop) · da pantsætning (instance of pawning something) · bg зало́г (instance of pawning something) · pt casa de penhores ((rare) type of shop — see also pawnshop) · cs zástava (instance of pawning something) · sv pant (instance of pawning something) · nl pand (item sold to a pawn shop) · eo garantipruntejo ((rare) type of shop — see also pawnshop) · fr prêt sur gage (instance of pawning something) · fr mont-de-piété ((rare) type of shop — see also pawnshop) · nb pantelåner ((rare) type of shop — see also pawnshop) · pt penhora ((rare) type of shop — see also pawnshop) · de Pfand (item sold to a pawn shop) · nl pandjeshuis ((rare) type of shop — see also pawnshop) · fi panttaus (instance of pawning something) · fr gage (item sold to a pawn shop) · de Pfandleiher ((rare) type of shop — see also pawnshop) · bg зало́жна къ́ща ((rare) type of shop — see also pawnshop) · ru ломба́рд ((rare) type of shop — see also pawnshop) · pt penhora (instance of pawning something) · el ενεχυρίαση (instance of pawning something) · sv pant (item sold to a pawn shop) · el ενεχυροδανειστήριο ((rare) type of shop — see also pawnshop) · de Versatzstück (item sold to a pawn shop) · sv pantbank ((rare) type of shop — see also pawnshop) · gl empeño (instance of pawning something) · mk заложница ((rare) type of shop — see also pawnshop) · eo lombardejo ((rare) type of shop — see also pawnshop) · he בית עבוט ((rare) type of shop — see also pawnshop) · pt topa-tudo ((rare) type of shop — see also pawnshop) · no pant (item sold to a pawn shop)
[ˈpoə̯n] ~ [ˈpʊə̯n] New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore
[ˈpän] Upper Midwestern US
/ˈpɔn/ without the cot–caught merger
[ˈpɑn] ~ [ˈpɒn] (Inland-Northern-American)
Etymology
From Middle English paun, pawyn, pawnd, from Old French pan, pant (“pledge for a payment”), from a Germanic language, perhaps Frankish *pand (“deposit, security, pledge”), further origin uncertain. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Pound (“deposit, pledge, pawn”), West Frisian pân (“pawn”), Dutch pand (“pledge, pawn”), German Low German Pand (“deposit, pledge, pawn”), German Pfand (“deposit, pledge, pawn”), Swedish pant (“pledge, pawn”), Faroese pantur (“security, lien”), Icelandic pantur (“pledge, security, pawn”).
Meanings
(transitive) To pledge; to stake or wager.
(transitive) To 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:
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:
lumber (to deposit at a pawn shop) · vamp (to deposit at a pawn shop) · pledge (to deposit at a pawn shop) · hock (to deposit at a pawn shop) · spout (to deposit at a pawn shop)
Translations (28)
fr engager (give as security for loan) · io gajigar (give as security for loan) · mn дан хийх (give as security for loan) · vi cầm đồ (give as security for loan) · mk заложува (give as security for loan) · ru отдава́ть в зало́г (give as security for loan) · el ενεχυριάζω (give as security for loan) · es empeñar (give as security for loan) · no pantsette (give as security for loan) · ka დალომბარდება (give as security for loan) · pt empenhar (give as security for loan) · vo panön (give as security for loan) · da pantsætte (give as security for loan) · ru закла́дывать (give as security for loan) · gl empeñar (give as security for loan) · ca empenyorar (give as security for loan) · cs dát do zástavy (give as security for loan) · fr mettre au clou (give as security for loan) · eo lombardi (give as security for loan) · pt penhorar (give as security for loan) · de verpfänden (give as security for loan) · ro amaneta (give as security for loan) · sv pantsätta (give as security for loan) · fr mettre en gage (give as security for loan) · nl verpanden (give as security for loan) · cs zastavit (give as security for loan) · fi pantata (give as security for loan) · bg залагам (give as security for loan)
[ˈpoə̯n] ~ [ˈpʊə̯n] New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore
[ˈpän] Upper Midwestern US
/ˈpɔn/ without the cot–caught merger
[ˈpɑn] ~ [ˈpɒn] (Inland-Northern-American)
Etymology
From Middle English pown, from Anglo-Norman poun, paun (“footman”), from Late Latin pedōnem (“pedestrian”), derived from Latin ped- (“foot”). Doublet of peon.
Meanings
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. 2022, “2023 Laws of Chess”, in FIDE, archived from the original on 16 Mar 2025, pages 5, 21:
(idiomatic) A person being manipulated by another, being used to some end.
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:
Though a pawn of the gods, her departure is the precipitating cause of the Trojan War.
oc peon (chess piece) · sl kmet (chess piece) · enm pown (chess piece) · it pedina (chess piece) · ast peón (chess piece) · ms piadah (chess piece) · cs pěšec (chess piece) · yue 卒 (chess piece) · hi सिपाही (chess piece) · sh pešak (chess piece) · ar بَيْدَق (chess piece) · ka პაიკი (chess piece) · pl pionek (someone who is being manipulated) · es peón (someone who is being manipulated) · hi प्यादा (chess piece) · ru пе́шка (someone who is being manipulated) · kk пешка (chess piece) · ga ceithearnach (chess piece) · ko 폰 (chess piece) · hi पियादा (chess piece) · ne सिपाही (chess piece) · da brik (someone who is being manipulated) · bg пио́нка (someone who is being manipulated) · jv bidhag (chess piece) · mi kurumetometo (chess piece) · be ла́тнік (chess piece) · it pedone (chess piece) · ar جُنْدِيّ (chess piece) · yue 棋 (someone who is being manipulated) · ca peó (chess piece) · th เบี้ย (chess piece) · pdt Büa (chess piece) · yi פּיאָן (chess piece) · vi tốt (chess piece) · sv bonde (chess piece) · be пе́шка (chess piece) · sh pion (chess piece) · el υποχείριο (someone who is being manipulated) · lt pėstininkas (chess piece) · hy զինվոր (chess piece) · pl pionek (chess piece) · ta சிப்பாய் (chess piece) · ja ポーン (chess piece) · bg пе́шка (chess piece) · gl peón (chess piece) · nl kleine man (someone who is being manipulated) · oj ganoodiye (chess piece) · tr oyuncak (someone who is being manipulated) · tl piyon (chess piece) · tk pyýada (chess piece) · br pezh gwerin (chess piece) · uz sarboz (chess piece) · ro pion (chess piece) · he פיון (someone who is being manipulated) · uz peshka (chess piece) · sq gur shahu (someone who is being manipulated) · ky пешка (chess piece) · et ettur (chess piece) · ms pion (chess piece) · fi pelinappula (someone who is being manipulated) · nan-hbl 兵 (chess piece) · tr piyon (someone who is being manipulated) · ur پیاده (chess piece) · my နယ် (chess piece) · uk піша́к (chess piece) · fi sotilas (chess piece) · el ενεργούμενο (someone who is being manipulated) · eo peono (chess piece) · sh пјешак (chess piece) · pl pion (chess piece) · he חייל (chess piece) · ka პაიკი (someone who is being manipulated) · kk сарбаз (chess piece) · ug پېشكا (chess piece) · af pion (someone who is being manipulated) · cmn 兵 (chess piece) · ru пе́шка (chess piece) · tk peşka (chess piece) · la latro (chess piece) · lo ເບ້ຍ (chess piece) · sk pešiak (chess piece) · sw kitunda (chess piece) · fa پیاده (chess piece) · gd pàn (chess piece) · mi kurumetometo (someone who is being manipulated) · yue 士兵 (chess piece) · be ні́жнік (chess piece) · ga fichillín (chess piece) · ja 駒 (someone who is being manipulated) · no brikke (someone who is being manipulated) · el πιόνι (someone who is being manipulated) · fr pion (someone who is being manipulated) · fa سرباز (chess piece) · az peşka (someone who is being manipulated) · ta காலாள் (chess piece) · hu gyalog (chess piece) · fo finna (chess piece) · ug پىيادە (chess piece) · he רגלי (chess piece) · tg сарбоз (chess piece) · tg пиёда (chess piece) · fr pion (chess piece) · sh пион (chess piece) · bn বোড়ে (chess piece) · hu paraszt (chess piece) · sh пешак (chess piece) · ms bidak (chess piece) · mk пешак (chess piece) · da bonde (chess piece) · cs figurka (someone who is being manipulated) · yue 兵 (chess piece) · mk пион (chess piece) · mi kaihāpai-ō (chess piece) · id pion (chess piece) · it pedina (someone who is being manipulated) · de Schachfigur (someone who is being manipulated) · no bonde (chess piece) · pt peão (chess piece) · kk қолшоқпар (someone who is being manipulated) · nl pion (someone who is being manipulated) · kk сойылсоғар (someone who is being manipulated) · km ត្រី (chess piece) · de Bauer (chess piece) · uz piyoda (chess piece) · ar بيذق (chess piece) · nan-hbl 士兵 (chess piece) · pal 𐭯𐭣𐭠𐭲𐭪 (chess piece) · es peón (chess piece) · az piyada (chess piece) · nl pion (chess piece) · io piono (chess piece) · el στρατιώτης (chess piece) · is peð (chess piece) · nv naaʼnil (chess piece) · tr piyon (chess piece) · lv bandinieks (chess piece) · pt peão (someone who is being manipulated) · ko 졸 (chess piece) · sh pješak (chess piece) · sv bricka (someone who is being manipulated) · sq ushtar (chess piece) · id bidak (chess piece) · az piyada (someone who is being manipulated) · af pion (chess piece) · mn хүү (chess piece) · el πιόνι (chess piece) · vi chốt (chess piece) · gl peón (someone who is being manipulated)
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:
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: