Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - pawn

 I. noun  Etymology: Middle English pown, from Anglo-French peoun, paun, from Medieval Latin pedon-, pedo foot soldier, from Latin ped-, pes foot — more at foot  Date: 14th century  1. one of the chessmen of least value having the power to move only forward ordinarily one square at a time, to capture only diagonally forward, and to be promoted to any piece except a king upon reaching the eighth rank  2. one that can be used to further the purposes of another  II. noun  Etymology: Middle English paun, from Middle French dialect (Walloon, Flanders) pan  Date: 15th century  1.  a. something delivered to or deposited with another as security for a loan  b. hostage  2. the state of being pledged  3. something used as a pledge ; guaranty  4. the act of ~ing  III. transitive verb  Date: 1570 to deposit in pledge or as security especially in exchange for money  • ~er also ~or noun