The Clue
Mere tool (4 letter answer)
The Answer
PAWN
Tags
Notes
The answer PAWN is common and appears about once every 325 puzzles.
Related Clues
One may be placed before a king
Least powerful member of the board?
Make use of a hock shop
Lowly chess piece
Future queen, maybe
First-row chessman
He's expendable and exploitable
En passant capture
One on the front line
Castle protector, maybe
One of 16 in a chess set
One with a round head
One with promotional potential
One on the way to a promotion?
Pledge or risk
Director's opposite
Chess sacrifice, often
Cat's-paw
Playing piece for Fischer
Impignorate
Hostage
Dupe
Stooge
Used one
Frequent chess sacrifice
Promotable piece
Board member?
Chess piece
Hock
Definition
PAWN as a noun:
1. an article deposited as security
2. (instrument, pawn, cat's-paw) = a person used by another to gain an end
3. (chess) the least powerful piece; moves only forward and captures only to the side; it can be promoted to a more powerful piece if it reaches the 8th rank
4. borrowing and leaving an article as security for repayment of the loan
PAWN as a verb:
1. (pawn, soak, hock) = leave as a guarantee in return for money; "pawn your grandfather's gold watch"