OXFORD DICTIONARY
escrow, n. & v. Law
--n.
1 money, property, or a written bond, kept in the custody of a third party until a specified condition has been fulfilled.
2 the status of this (in escrow).
--v.tr. place in escrow.
AF escrowe, OF escroe scrap, scroll, f. med.L scroda f. Gmc
THESAURUS
escrow
bail, bond, earnest, earnest money, gage, handsel, hock, hostage, mainprise, pawn, pignus, pledge, recognizance, replevin, replevy, surety, token payment, undertaking, vadimonium, vadium