Pignus

I, In the civil law. A pledge or pawn; a delivery of a thing to a creditor, as security for a debt; the thing delivered. Pignoris appellatione earn proprie rem contineri diciinas, quaj siniul etiam traditur creditori, maxime si mobilis sit: under the title of pignus (pledge), we declare, is properly included the thing itself, which at the same time is delivered to the creditor, especially if it be movable.