Pawn has two distinct meanings:

1. A chess piece that can only move forward one square at a time (or two squares on its first move). Pawns are the smallest and least powerful pieces on the board, and each player starts with eight of them forming a protective wall in front of the stronger pieces. Though limited in how they move, pawns play a crucial role: they control key squares, protect more valuable pieces, and can even transform into a queen if they reach the opposite end of the board.
2. A person being used or manipulated by someone more powerful. When you call someone a pawn, you mean they're being controlled without realizing it, like a chess piece moved around the board. A villain might use an innocent person as a pawn in an elaborate scheme, or a bully might treat a younger student like a pawn to do their dirty work. The word suggests that the person has little control over what's happening and is being used for someone else's benefit.