This lowly chess piece takes its name from the Latin for "foot soldier"
In considering the pieces, we will not 
take them in order ... meanings (i.e., the chess-man and the foot-soldier) was the 
same... [DOC] [TLE] "pawn" || Good Word Guide [PAR] 3. chess the least powerful piece; moves only forward and captures only to the 
side; it can be promoted ... "lowly chess piece", 1369, from Anglo French poun, 
Old French peon, from Middle Latin pedonem "foot soldier", from Late Latin 
pedonem "one going on ... Pawn, another name for a pledge (law) in certain 
jurisdictions .