panhandle

1
[ pan-han-dl ]
/ ˈpænˌhæn dl /

noun

the handle of a pan.
(sometimes initial capital letter) a long, narrow, projecting strip of territory that is not a peninsula, especially such a part of a specified state: the panhandle of Alaska; the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles.

Origin of panhandle

1
First recorded in 1855–60; pan1 + handle

Definition for panhandle (2 of 2)

panhandle 2
[ pan-han-dl ]
/ ˈpænˌhæn dl /
Informal.

verb (used without object), pan·han·dled, pan·han·dling.

to accost passers-by on the street and beg from them.

verb (used with object), pan·han·dled, pan·han·dling.

to accost and beg from.
to obtain by accosting and begging from someone.

Origin of panhandle

2
1895–1900, Americanism; back formation from panhandler; so called from the resemblance of the extended arm to a panhandle1

OTHER WORDS FROM panhandle

pan·han·dler, noun

Example sentences from the Web for panhandle

British Dictionary definitions for panhandle (1 of 2)

panhandle 1
/ (ˈpænˌhændəl) /

noun

(sometimes capital) (in the US) a narrow strip of land that projects from one state into another
(in a South African city) a plot of land without street frontage

British Dictionary definitions for panhandle (2 of 2)

panhandle 2
/ (ˈpænˌhændəl) /

verb

US and Canadian informal to accost and beg from (passers-by), esp on the street

Derived forms of panhandle

panhandler, noun

Word Origin for panhandle

C19: probably a back formation from panhandler a person who begs with a pan