Panhandling

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. The practice of requesting alms or financial aid from individuals in outdoor locations
2. The action of seeking monetary support from people in public areas
3. The act of asking strangers for money or help in open spaces

Etymology: The verb "panhandle" is a compound of "pan," as in the cooking vessel, and "handle," the grip. The image is of holding out a pan the way a beggar holds out a hand, and the sense of asking passersby for small coins took hold in American English. The noun "panhandler" appeared first, and the verb was later formed from it by back-formation, so the verb came out of the noun rather than the other way around. The gerund and present participle "panhandling" simply take the verb's ending, and they carry the same meaning as the root word.

Synonyms: begging, mugging, soliciting, asking, requesting

Antonyms: giving, donating, offering, contributing, providing