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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

4 entries under this word

Pawn

Pawn, n.

noun

n. [O. Fr. pan, pledge, assurance, Icel. pantr, Dan. & Sw. pant, D. & L. Ger. pand, O. H. Ger. pfant, N. H. Ger. pfand.] 1. Something given or deposited as security for the payment of money borrowed; a pledge. Men will not take pawns without use. Bacon. ☞ Pawn is applied only to goods, chattels, or money, and not to real estate. 2. A pledge for the fulfillment of a promise. In pawn, at pawn, in the state of being pledged. “Sweet wife, my honor is at pawn.” Shak.

Pawn, n.

noun

[O. Fr. peon, N. Fr. pion, Pr. peon, pezon, Sp. peon, It. pedone, one that goes on foot, a walker, from Lat. pes, pedis, foot.] A common man, or piece of the lowest rank, in chess.

Pawn, v. t.

verbtransitive

[imp. & p. p. PAWNED; p. pr. & vb. n. PAWNING.] [See supra.]

  1. To give or deposit in pledge, or as security for the payment of money borrowed; to pledge; as, she pawned the last piece of plate.
  2. To pledge for the fulfillment of a promise; to stake; to wager.

I pawned my honor for his truth. Shak.

Pawn, n.

noun

n. The betel pepper, or the masticatory prepared from its leaves, with the addition of the betel-nut and lime. [Written also pan.] See BETEL and PAN.