Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Pawn

Pawn , noun

See Pan, the masticatory.

Pawn , noun

[Old English paune, poun, Old French peon, poon, French pion, Late Latin pedo a foot soldier, from Latin pes, pedis, foot. See Foot, and compare Pioneer, Peon.]

(Chess) A man or piece of the lowest rank.

Pawn , noun

[Old French pan pledge, assurance, skirt, piece, French pan skirt, lappet, piece, from Latin pannus. See Pane.]

1.
Anything delivered or deposited as security, as for the payment of money borrowed, or of a debt; a pledge. See Pledge, n., 1.
As for mortgaging or pawning,... men will not take pawns without use [i. e., interest]. — Bacon
2.
State of being pledged; a pledge for the fulfillment of a promise. [Rare]
Redeem from broking pawn the blemish'd crown. — Shakespeare
As the morning dew is a pawn of the evening fatness. — Donne
3.
A stake hazarded in a wager. [Poetic]
My life I never held but as a pawn To wage against thy enemies. — Shakespeare
Collocations (3)
In pawn or At pawn , in the state of being pledged. Sweet wife, my honor is at pawn. — Shakespeare
Pawn shop , a shop where a pawnbroker does business.
Pawn ticket , a receipt given by the pawnbroker for an article pledged.

Pawn , transitive verb

1.
To give or deposit in pledge, or as security for the payment of money borrowed; to put in pawn; to pledge; as, to pawn one's watch.
And pawned the last remaining piece of plate. — Dryden
2.
To pledge for the fulfillment of a promise; to stake; to risk; to wager; to hazard.
Pawning his honor to obtain his lust. — Shakespeare