mont-de-piété

pawnshop

noun mohn-duh-pyeh-TEH Rare

Origin: French translation of Italian Monte di Pietà (mountain of piety), charitable pawn institution

Usage Note

Mont-de-piété is the historical French term for a state-backed pawnbroking institution, originally set up in the 15th century to offer low-interest loans to the poor. In modern France the official successor is le Crédit Municipal. The plural is monts-de-piété. The colloquial expression mettre au mont-de-piété means to pawn something.

Examples

"Il a mis sa montre au mont-de-piété."

Natural Translation

He pawned his watch at the pawnshop.

Literal Translation

He has put his watch at-the pawnshop.

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