Pawn
Dictionary of Terms and Phrases Used in American or English Jurisprudence · Benjamin Vaughan Abbott · 1879
Dictionary of Terms and Phrases Used in American or English Jurisprudence
n. The thing bailed in the contract of pledge. It is also in use as a verb, meaning to pledge, to leave as security; and sometimes appears in the sense of the contract of pledge. Using it only as meaning the thing left as security, and using pledge only as a verb, or as meaning the bailment or contract, would tend to accuracy of expression. Pawn, or pledge, is a bailment of goods by a debtor to his creditor, to be kept till the debt is discharged.
Wharton. Pa-wnbroker.
One who makes it a business to loan money on security of things left in pledge. Any person whose business or occupation it is to take or receive, by way of pledge, pawn, or exchange, any goods, wares, or merchandise, or any kind of personal property whatever, as security for the repayment of money lent thereon.
Act of July 13, 1866, § 9, 14 Stat, at L. 116.