plural panhandles
US
: a part of a land area (such as a state) that is narrow and sticks out from a larger area
the panhandle of Florida = the Florida Panhandle
The Texas Panhandle is the northernmost part of the state.
the Oklahoma Panhandle
panhandles; panhandled; panhandling
chiefly US
: to ask strangers for money in a public place (such as on a sidewalk)
He panhandled for his bus fare.
There is a law against panhandling in the subway.
Cite this Entry
“Panhandle.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/panhandle. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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