Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1300-1400
Language: Anglo-French
Origin: poun, from Medieval Latin pedo 'soldier'

pawn

1 noun
     
Related topics: Board Games
pawn1 [countable]
1DGB one of the eight smallest and least valuable pieces which each player has in the game of chess
2 someone who is used by a more powerful person or group and has no control of the situation
pawn in
They became pawns in the political battle.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
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