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

Portions of Florida's panhandle and southeast Alabama could also see temperatures as low as 24 degrees. —Anna Commander, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024

Overall, the cold air mass is bringing below-freezing temperatures as far south as the Florida panhandle, and more than 13 million people across nine states in the south are under freeze alerts. —Daniel Amarante, ABC News, 29 Nov. 2024

Verb

The confrontation that led to the shooting took place early on December 15, 2020, after Valdivia was approached by a man who was panhandling on a train approaching the Medical Center station in Bethesda, Maryland. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2024

In that incident, aboard a moving Red Line car train at 6:30 a.m. on Dec. 15, 2020, Valdivia was approached by a man who was panhandling. —Dan Morse, Baltimore Sun, 26 Nov. 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