pawn

Meaning

Noun

1. (uncountable) The state of being held as security for a loan, or as a pledge.
2. (countable, uncountable) An instance of pawning something.
3. (archaic, countable, uncountable) An item given as security on a loan, or as a pledge.
4. (countable, rare, uncountable) A pawnshop; pawnbroker.

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.

Verb

Alternative form of pwn.

Synonyms

pledge

mortgage

hock

security

hypothecate

soldier

soak

man

👨

instrument

gage

deposit

collateral

guarantee

escort

pawning

piece

hostage

cat’s-paw

bail

law

impawn

jack

lay

manage

man-at-arms

peacock

🦚

pop

press

prisoner

put

rule

serviceman

set

spout

stake

start

statute

sweat

😓

take up

tie

warrant

warrior

win

cat’s paw

chess-man

put in pawn

borrow money

give in pledge

arrest

bargaining chip

Translations

pion

peón

Bauer

🧑‍🌾

pion

pedone

πιόνι

impegnare

pedina

peão

piyon

mettre en gage

peó

ενέχυρο

Pronounced as (IPA)

/pɔːn/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: pown

Cognate with Middle Dutch: pant

Cognate with Old High German: pfant

In summary

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”).