panhandler

UK: /ˈpænhændlə^r/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

pan•han•dle¹ /ˈpænˌhændəl/   n. [countable]

1. the handle of a pan.
2. a long, narrow strip of land that sticks out from a larger territory:
   the Texas panhandle.

pan•han•dle² /ˈpænˌhændəl/   v., -dled, -dling. 

1. Informal Terms to approach people passing by on the street and beg (something) from (them): [no object]
   panhandling on the streets.
   [~ + object]
   panhandling the businessmen; panhandled a few dollars.

pan•han•dler, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pan•han•dle¹  (pan′han′dl), n. 

1. the handle of a pan.
2. (sometimes cap.) a long, narrow, projecting strip of territory that is not a peninsula, esp. such a part of a specified state:
   the panhandle of Alaska; the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles.

• pan¹ + handle 1855–60

pan•han•dle²  (pan′han′dl), v., -dled, -dling. [Informal.]
v.i. 

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

v.t. 

2. Informal Terms to accost and beg from.
3. Informal Terms to obtain by accosting and begging from someone.

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

pan′han′dler, n.