Gave something as security to borrow money, or moved a pawn forward in chess.
From Old French 'pan' meaning pledge or security. The chess meaning comes from the piece name 'pawn,' which derives from Latin 'pagensis' (country person), reflecting the pawn's role as the lowest-ranking piece.
The word 'pawn' connects chess terminology to financial desperation—both meanings suggest trading something of small value for immediate gain, which is why 'pawning' became synonymous with desperation.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.