spanger

See also: spänger

English

Etymology

spange + -er (person who does), root blend of spare + change, from stereotyped phrase “spare change?”, “spare any change?”

Noun

spanger (plural spangers)

  1. (US, slang, derogatory) beggar, one who uses the phrase “spare change?”
    • 2007, Pam Hogeweide, Spangers and Song on Hawthorne:[1]
      I squatted down on the sidewalk to get eye level with the spanger (someone who asks passerbys for spare change).

Usage notes

While sometimes used neutrally,[1] more often used pejoratively,[2][3][4][5] with connotations of professional begging.

References

  1. Spangers and Song on Hawthorne, by Pam Hogeweide, November 2007
  2. The Plague of Professional Panhandling, August 26, 2008, by Steven Malanga, The Dallas Morning News
  3. Panhandlers More Often Pros Than Cons: It's a full-time gig for some, and cities make little headway with efforts to stop begging, by Kate Schwartz, Newster, Sep 22, 2008
  4. What can we do about spangers?, The Portland Mercury, Questionland
  5. Atlanta ‘Giving Meters’ Program off to Slow Start, by Jay Black, WSB News, March 28, 2009

Anagrams

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