Obs. [f. COUNTER- 5 + PAWN; but possibly directly from OF. contrepan, ‘a pledge, gage, or pawne, especially of an immoueable’ (Cotgr.), found from 13th c. in Godef. in sense ‘security, evidence, or assurance of property’; cf. also AF. countrepan quoted under COUNTERPANE1, and see PANE, PAWN (both from OF. pan).] = COUNTERPANE1 1.
1611. Cotgr., Contregage, a counter-gage, or counter-pawne.
1620. Ford, Linea V. (1843), 46. A tripartite counterpawne, wherby wee hold the possession of life. Ibid. (1634), P. Warbeck, II. iii. No indenture but has its counterpawn.
