pension mid-14c., "payment for services," especially "reward, payment out of a benefice" (early 14c., in Anglo-L.), from O.Fr. pension "payment, rent," from L. pensionem (nom. pensio) "payment, rent," from pensus, pp. of pendere "pay, weigh" (see pendant). Meaning "regular payment in consideration of past service" first recorded 1520s. Meaning "boarding house, boarding school" first atteste..