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

And usually, that moment happens along a line of sparkling white sand, like the one along 30A. On June 7, those panhandle beaches were full of people, families like Elisabeth Foley’s. —Rick Jervis, USA TODAY, 5 Aug. 2024

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

Verb

Track wildfires in real-time:Wildfires burn more than one million acres in Texas panhandle What does homeowners insurance cover? —Marley Malenfant, Austin American-Statesman, 5 Mar. 2024

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