panhandle

(panhan′dəl)

noun

  1. the handle of a pan
  2. ☆ a strip of land projecting like the handle of a pan, as the western extension of Okla.

transitive verb, intransitive verb panhandled, panhandling

Informal to beg (from), esp. on the streets

Origin: prob. back-form. < panhandler

See panhandle in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb pan·han·dled, pan·han·dling, pan·han·dles
Informal
verb, intransitive
To approach strangers and beg for money or food.
verb, transitive
  1. To approach and beg from (a stranger).
  2. To obtain by approaching and begging from a stranger: panhandled money. See Synonyms at cadge.

Origin:

Origin: Back-formation from panhandler, beggar

Origin: : perhaps pan1

Origin: + handler

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Related Forms:

  • panˈhanˌdler noun

noun
  1. The handle of a pan.
  2. often Panhandle A narrow strip of territory projecting from a larger, broader area, as in Alaska, Idaho, Oklahoma, Texas, and West Virginia.

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