panhandle

1 of 2

noun

pan·​han·​dle ˈpan-ˌhan-dᵊl 

: a narrow projection of a larger territory (such as a state)

the Oklahoma Panhandle

panhandle

2 of 2

verb

panhandled; panhandling ˈpan-ˌhan(d)-liŋ 

-ˌhan-dᵊl-iŋ

intransitive verb

: to stop people on the street and ask for food or money : beg

transitive verb

1

: to accost on the street and beg from

2

: to get by panhandling

panhandler

ˈpan-ˌhan(d)-lər 

-ˌhan-dᵊl-ər

noun

Examples of panhandle in a Sentence

Noun

The Texas Panhandle is the northernmost part of the state.

Verb

He panhandled for his bus fare.

There is a law against panhandling in the subway.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Sitka is a city and borough of about 8,400 people in the Alaska panhandle, southwest of Juneau. —Phil Helsel, NBC News, 31 Oct. 2024

The organization previously flew animals from Tampa-area shelters to another location in Florida’s panhandle that is safer. —Solcyré Burga, TIME, 10 Oct. 2024

Verb

Police calls were up and so were resident complaints about panhandling. —Liam Dillon, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024

Francine is expected to bring storm total rainfall of four to eight inches, with local amounts to 12 inches across southeastern Louisiana, Mississippi, far southern Alabama and the Florida panhandle through Thursday night. —Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 11 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

back-formation from panhandler, probably from panhandle, noun; from the extended forearm

First Known Use

Noun

1846, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1890, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

panhandle

1 of 2 noun

pan·​han·​dle ˈpan-ˌhan-dᵊl 

: a narrow strip of territory that extends from a larger territory (as a state)

the Texas Panhandle

panhandle

2 of 2 verb

panhandled; panhandling

-ˌhan-(d)liŋ,

-dᵊl-iŋ

: to beg for money on the street

panhandler

-(d)lər 

-dᵊl-ər

noun