panhandle
pronunciation
How to pronounce panhandle in British English:
UK ['pænˌhændl]
How to pronounce panhandle in American English:
US [ˈpænˌhændl]
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- Noun:
- a relatively narrow strip of land projecting from some larger area
- the handle of a pan
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- Verb:
- beg by accosting people in the street and asking for money
Word Origin
- panhandle (n.)
- "something resembling the handle of a pan," 1851, from pan (n.) + handle (n.). Especially in reference to geography, originally American English, from 1856, in reference to Virginia (now West Virginia; Florida, Texas, Idaho, Oklahoma, and Alaska also have them). Meaning "an act of begging" is attested from 1849, perhaps from notion of arm stuck out like a panhandle, or of one who handles a (beggar's) pan.
- panhandle (v.)
- "to beg," 1888, from panhandle (n.) in the begging sense. Related: Panhandled; panhandling.
Example
- 1. Columbus claimed the world was round ; he had never cruised the texas panhandle .
- 2. And what 's with oklahoma having a panhandle ?
- 3. Homeless people forced to panhandle in subway stations .
- 4. Mr gingrich should do well , argues susan macmanus of the university of south florida , in the fiercely conservative panhandle in the north of the state .
- 5. For example , the southeastern united states supports about 90 percent of all the brown pelicans in the u.s. , with the gulf coast from louisiana to the florida panhandle comprising around 40 percent of that habitat , hunter says .