panhandle

panhandle — noun

IPA/ˈpænˌhæn.dəl/
KK[pˈænhˌændəl]IPA/ˈpænˌhæn.dəl/
  • panhandlesingular
  • panhandlesplural

1. a long, slender section of territory that protrudes outward from the main body o

1.nounC1
Definition

a long, slender section of territory that protrudes outward from the main body of a region (typically a U.S. state or country), often resembling a frying-pan handle on a map — for example, the western finger of Oklahoma or the northern arm of Florida.

Example

Christopher drove for six hours across the Oklahoma panhandle without seeing another car.

the [region] panhandle for naming a specific geographic strip

Tornado warnings sounded across the Texas panhandle on Saturday afternoon.

common collocation: tornado warnings in the [state] panhandle

Common collocations
  • the Oklahoma/Texas/Florida panhandle
  • drive across the panhandle
  • live in the panhandle
Synonyms
  • strip

    more general; doesn't imply attachment to a larger area

  • extension

    neutral geographic term; doesn't suggest a narrow elongated shape

  • tongue (of land)

    literary; emphasizes the protruding shape but rarely used for U.S. states

Grammar Patterns

the panhandle of [region]

Usage Note

Used almost exclusively in American English for U.S. state extensions and a few country regions (e.g. the Caprivi panhandle of Namibia). Typically pre-modified by the region name with a definite article: 'the Oklahoma panhandle', not 'a panhandle of Oklahoma'.

Common Mistakes

I live in a panhandle of Texas.
I live in the panhandle of Texas.
the definite article is fixed; each region has one panhandle.

panhandle — verb

IPA/ˈpænhændl/
KK[pˈænhˌændəl]IPA/ˈpænhændl/

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four verbs describe asking for something you have not earned, but they differ sharply in register and setting. 'Beg' is the broadest and most neutral — you can beg for forgiveness, beg a friend for help, or beg on the street; it carries no fixed social setting. 'Panhandle' is narrower and specifically American: it names the act of approaching strangers on the street for small amounts of cash, change, or food, usually because of homelessness. 'Solicit' is formal and often appears in legal or organisational contexts — soliciting donations, votes, business — so it sounds wrong for a person on a sidewalk asking for a dollar. 'Cadge' is British informal and usually refers to wheedling small favours from people you already know, like cadging a cigarette off a co-worker. Compare: 'She begged her father to listen' (emotional pleading), 'He panhandles outside the subway' (street, small change), 'The charity solicited donations by mail' (formal request), 'I cadged a ride home from Joon' (casual favour from someone familiar).

panhandle ↗beg ↗solicit ↗cadge ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • panhandle laws
  • panhandle ordinance

Adverbs

  • aggressively (panhandle)
  • openly

Phrases

  • forced to panhandle
  • make a living panhandling

Prepositions

  • panhandle for
  • panhandle outside
  • panhandle near

Etymology

English (American)

The noun sense (geographical strip) appeared in mid-19th-century American English: a long, narrow piece of land sticking out of a larger area was said to resemble the handle of a frying pan attached to its round body, hence 'pan + handle'. The verb sense (begging on the street) developed later, around the 1890s, by a vivid image: a beggar's outstretched arm holding a tin pan or cup was likened to the handle of a pan, so to 'panhandle' was to extend that 'handle' toward passers-by. Both senses are still primarily American.