# please explain "pwned!" to an old geezer **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 26, 2008, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-pwned-to-an-old-geezer/454301 "2008-06-26T13:55:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-pwned-to-an-old-geezer/454301/21 "2008-06-26T18:18:33Z")
I say it like “p’ned!” because I’m trying to draw attention to how unhip I am. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-pwned-to-an-old-geezer/454301/22 "2008-06-26T23:21:35Z")
[QUOTE=MrSquishy] I recently heard that the first instance of “pwned” was a typo in a dialog box in the original PC version of Warcraft (1994). Does anybody have any idea if there is any truth to this? Does anybody remember seeing it, or have a copy they can fire up on an old machine and see if it’s true? [/QUOTE] We had a discussion about that just a while ago. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=459463&highlight=warcraft+pwned](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=459463&highlight=warcraft+pwned) ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-pwned-to-an-old-geezer/454301/23 "2008-06-26T23:42:30Z")
I invariably read it as “pawned!” as in your target has been reduced in rank and status, so to speak. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2008, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-pwned-to-an-old-geezer/454301/24 "2008-06-27T00:31:47Z")
[QUOTE=Santo Rugger] And this whole time I thought it was short for pawned, as in, the chess piece. [/QUOTE] [PWNED](http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a216/InigoFMontoya/?action=view¤t=funny-pictures-cat-chess-pawnd.jpg)! ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2008, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-pwned-to-an-old-geezer/454301/25 "2008-06-27T01:21:03Z")
[QUOTE=John DiFool] I invariably read it as “pawned!” as in your target has been reduced in rank and status, so to speak. [/QUOTE] Right, which is why it’s still around and didn’t die like 99% o the other stuff. “Owned!” and “Pawned!” are close enough so it can be figured out from context, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2008, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-pwned-to-an-old-geezer/454301/26 "2008-06-27T02:08:06Z")
[QUOTE=bordelond] “Owned”, in turn, comes from such expressions as “The Yankees owned the Red Sox for decades” – “owned” meaning “bested” or “dominated”, expecially in competitive contexts. The meaning of “owned/pwned” has diffused a bit over the last decade or so … it can mean that someone got over on someone else in a mild way: “_Owned! They got the last cup of coffee. Now you have to make the next pot._.” [/QUOTE] hmmm - I get the sense in “Yankees owned the Red Sox” - doubt that I would have used it, but I think I’ve heard it. But this one I’ve never heard of: “_Owned! They got the last cup of coffee. Now you have to make the next pot._”. No wonder I’m puzzled by it all. Thanks for the replies, all. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-pwned-to-an-old-geezer/454301.md?page=1)