Etymology

Possibly born out of a typo in computer game. If an enemy was defeated, a message would display, "The opponent got pwned." The correct spelling would have been "owned", as in "I just owned your system."

Another possible source is in the fact that the letter "p" comes after the letter "o" in the English alphabet. Therefore, "p" is greater than "o". In this case if you've more than owned somebody, you've "pwned" them.

The letters O and P are right beside each other on standard QWERTY keyboards.

Verb

1. To own in the sense of defeat.
2. To beat someone or something by a wide margin, usually in relation to a game.

Noun

1. Triumph, defeat, victory. Often exclaimed after an opponent in a video game is defeated.

Quotations

• 2001, Edward Glamkowski, in alt.games.diablo2 http://groups.google.com/group/alt.games.diablo2/msg/35dbd43c3b498da0?dmode=source&hl=en

  Otherwise I use fury as my normal attack. Fury completely pwns!

• 2003, James Grahame, in alt.games.everquest http://groups.google.com/group/alt.games.everquest/msg/043ab720b8a2edbf?dmode=source&hl=en

  When you get to the Temple of Marr, look very closely at the vases at zone-in and see if you can find the picture where Mith Marr "pwns" someone.

• 2004, Bronney Hui, in alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia http://groups.google.com/group/alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia/msg/712f43b1adc4ab6e?dmode=source&hl=en

  My Trident pwns the Cirrus Logics!

• 2005, Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time

  NOOBZ STILL R NOT PWNED. CONTINUE PWNERSHIP UNTIL ALL NOOBZ R PWNED.