pawn English · revision 998

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈpɔːn/ ''(UK)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ ''Pawn'' “pledge” is [[inh|enm|paun]], [[bor|frm|pan|t=pledge, security]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) of Germanic origin,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) related to [[nl|pand]] and [[de|Pfand|t=pledge]].^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) The chess ''pawn'' is [[inh|enm|poun]], [[bor|xno|poun]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from Old French ''peon'' “foot soldier”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) [[der|la-med|pedō|t=foot soldier]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from [[la|pēs|t=foot]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The chess piece of smallest value (c. 1369).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995) The pledge sense appears in Anglo-Latin ''pandum'' in the 12th century^(Etymonline) and in English in 1496.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The chess sense had developed in Old French by the 13th century.^(Etymonline) Figuratively, a ''pawn'' is a person used to further someone else's purposes (1589).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The pledge word gave the phrase ''in pawn'' (1554)^(OED 1989) and the verb “to deposit as security for a loan” (1567–70),^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate) also figuratively “to pledge, to risk”, as in ''to pawn one's life''.^(OED 1989)^(AHD)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1369 – the chess piece.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1496 – a pledge, security.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1554 – ''in pawn''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1567 – verb, to pledge (figuratively).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1570 – verb, to deposit as security for a loan.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1589 – a person used by others.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The chess piece of lowest value, which moves forward one square at a time (or two on its first move) and captures diagonally.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A person or thing used to further another's purposes; a tool.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Something given as security for a loan; a [[pledge]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The state of being held as security, as in ''jewels in pawn''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A person held as security; a [[hostage]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To give or deposit (personal property) as security for money borrowed, especially with a [[pawnbroker]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To pledge or risk, as in ''pawn one's honour''.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[pawnable]]

+ * [[pawnage]]

+ * [[pawnshop]]

+ * [[pawnbroker]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[peon]]

+ * [[pedestrian]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}