English word pawn comes from Proto-Indo-European *póds, and later Latin pedis (Louse.)
Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
---|---|---|
*póds | Proto-Indo-European (ine) | |
pedis | Latin (lat) | Louse. |
pedo | Late Latin (LL) | |
pedō | Late Latin (LL) | |
poun | Old French (fro) | (chess) pawn. Walker; pedestrian. |
poon | Old French (fro) | (chess) pawn. |
paun | Anglo-Norman (xno) | |
pawn | English (en) | (chess) The most common chess piece, or a similar piece in a similar game. In chess each side has eight; moves are only forward, and attacks are only forward diagonally or en passant.. (colloquial) Someone who is being manipulated or used to some end, usually not the end that individual would prefer. |