noun
- something given as security for a debt or obligation; a pledge or pawn
Usage: legal; archaic
Examples
- The merchant accepted the gold ring as pignus for the loan.
- Under Roman law, pignus was a common form of security arrangement.
- The debtor offered his property as pignus to guarantee payment.
- The contract specified that the pignus would be returned upon full payment.
- Ancient legal texts frequently reference pignus in commercial transactions.