I think it started out as a gamer term.
Pwned is an accidental deviation of the word “owned,” which through online video gaming came to mean “you just got humiliated.” Pwned came into being when someone accidentally hit the letter P instead of O on the keyboard, as the two keys are next to each other. It became accepted for its ridiculousness, and is now a more forceful version of owned.
“I think it started out as a gamer term”
That makes a lot of sense. When you’re battling the Forces of Evil, there’s no time whatsoever to correct a typo, LOL. :)
Do you watch Chuck, btw? My family (hubby & son are gamers, daughter, not so much) love that show and watch it every Monday.