pawn — a chess piece of the smallest size and value
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a chess piece of the smallest size and value
Pronunciation (IPA): /pɔːn/
Example Sentences
- My grandmother taught me that even a pawn can become a queen in chess.
- He pawned his guitar to buy concert tickets, which is pretty ironic.
- Don't let yourself become a pawn in their corporate power struggle.
pawn
NOUN[/pɔːn/]
a chess piece of the smallest size and value
a chess piece of the smallest size and value
At dawn, the pawn's shadow is drawn long and strong
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Derived from Old French 'paon' in the 14th century, originally meaning 'foot soldier' or 'infantryman'. The term was adopted into English chess terminology to denote the weakest piece on the board, reflecting the military hierarchy where foot soldiers held the lowest rank.
Breakdown
paon (Old French: foot soldier) → pawn. The word underwent semantic shift from military context (common soldier) to chess terminology (lowest-ranking piece), maintaining the metaphor of humble rank despite foundational importance.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My grandmother taught me that even a pawn can become a queen in chess.”
“He pawned his guitar to buy concert tickets, which is pretty ironic.”
“Don't let yourself become a pawn in their corporate power struggle.”
“She pawned her wedding ring but bought lottery tickets instead of food.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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