Navigation
Home
Resources
Irregular verbs quizzes English conjugator English-French dictionary French dictionary English dictionary Monolingual dictionaries Scores by institution Free sample tests FAQ Pricing Tourism training Blog Videos
Login Sign up
Blog
Videos
Pricing
FR EN

panhandle

noun, verb — 5 senses

panhandle

noun

UK, US /ˈpænˌhæn.dəl/

Etymology From pan + handle.

1

The handle of a pan.

2

Cartography, Geography, Natural sciences US An area within a nation or subnational division that appears to stick out or project when viewed on a map; an especially elongated salient.

3

Aeronautics, Aerospace, Aviation, Business, Engineering, Natural sciences, Physical sciences The handle that activates an ejector seat.

  • The Captain Keith Handscomb was the occupant of that ejector seat and the only survivor; his narrow escape was by just being able to reach the seat panhandle with his third and fourth fingers of his left hand.2007, Roger Brooks, Handley Page Victor, volume 2:
Derived terms
Alaskan Panhandle, Panhandle, panhandle track

panhandle

verb

Etymology Probable back-formation from panhandler.

1

US To beg for money, especially with a container in hand for receiving loose change, especially on the street, and particularly, as a homeless or vagrant person.

  • I had a white cane, but I never used it. Once, alone and lost in downtown Washington, I unfolded it, immediately sweating as I felt hundreds of eyes shift onto me. A man who was panhandling grabbed me and showed me the way home.2014 May 30, Will Butler, “The Mark of Cane”, in The New York Times Magazine:
2

Figuratively, Uncommon To elicit; to attempt to obtain or provoke a certain response or answer.

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.

Learn more