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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