please explain "pwned!" to an old geezer

[Zsofia]

I say it like “p’ned!” because I’m trying to draw attention to how unhip I am.

[samclem]

@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?

We had a discussion about that just a while ago.

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=459463&highlight=warcraft+pwned

[John_DiFool]

I invariably read it as “pawned!” as in your target has been reduced in rank and status, so to speak.

[Inigo_Montoya]

@Santo Rugger

And this whole time I thought it was short for pawned, as in, the chess piece.

PWNED!

[DrDeth]

@John DiFool

I invariably read it as “pawned!” as in your target has been reduced in rank and status, so to speak.

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.

[Northern_Piper]

@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..”

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.