pawn
verb [ T ]
uk/pɔːn/ usto leave a valuable possession with a pawnbroker (= someone who lends money in exchange for possessions):
Under the law, the owner of an automobile may pawn it to secure a loan up to $2,500.
pawn
noun
uk/pɔːn/ us [ C ]
a person or organization that does not have any real power, but is used by others to achieve something:
a pawn in sth The federal jury rejected the company's defense that they were an unwitting pawn in the scheme to sell confidential documents.
in pawn
left with a pawnbroker (= someone who lends money in exchange for valuable possessions):
If a pawn shop loans $50 on a gold necklace, they might charge $5 to keep the necklace in pawn for each month.
out of pawn
no longer with a pawnbroker (= someone who lends money in exchange for valuable possessions):
She had pawned the ring, and couldn't get it out of pawn until the Saturday.