panhandle

²panhandle

verb

pan·han·dledpan·han·dling\-ˌhan(d)-liŋ, -ˌhan-d^əl-iŋ\

Definition of PANHANDLE

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

— pan·han·dler \-ˌhan(d)-lər, -ˌhan-d^əl-ər\ noun

Examples of PANHANDLE

1. He panhandled for his bus fare.
2. There is a law against panhandling in the subway.

Origin of PANHANDLE

back-formation from panhandler, probably from panhandle, noun; from the extended forearm

First Known Use: 1894