Legal Definitions - pawnee

PAWNEE

A pawnee is a person who receives personal property as collateral for a debt.

1. John borrowed $500 from Mary and gave her his watch as collateral. Mary is now the pawnee of the watch.

2. Sarah pawned her diamond ring to get some quick cash. The pawn shop owner is now the pawnee of the ring.

These examples illustrate the definition of pawnee because in both cases, a person (Mary and the pawn shop owner) received personal property (the watch and the diamond ring) as security for a debt (the $500 loan and the cash received from pawning the ring). The pawnee has the right to keep the property until the debt is repaid, at which point the property is returned to the original owner.