pawn
UK: pɔːn | US: pɔːn
n. 1. The least powerful chess piece, moved one square forward.
n. 2. A person used by others for their own purposes; a tool or puppet.
vt. To deposit (an item) as security for a loan.
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The word "pawn" originates from the Old French pan ("pledge, security"), which likely derived from a Germanic root (compare Old High German pfant). Its chess meaning emerged in the 14th century, metaphorically extending from the idea of "something of lesser value pledged in a transaction." The sense of "a person manipulated by others" arose in the 16th century, reflecting the piece's expendable nature in chess.
He sacrificed his pawn to gain a strategic advantage.
The corrupt politician treated his staff as mere pawns.
She had to pawn her necklace to pay the rent.
In the endgame, a pawn can become a queen.
They were pawns in a larger corporate scheme.