spanger
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See also: spänger
English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
spange + -er (“person who does”), root blend of spare + change, from stereotyped phrase “spare change?”, “spare any change?”
Pronunciation[edit]
Audio (AU): (file)
Noun[edit]
spanger (plural spangers)
- (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).
- 2007, Pam Hogeweide, Spangers and Song on Hawthorne:[1]
Usage notes[edit]
While sometimes used neutrally,[1] more often used pejoratively,[2][3][4][5] with connotations of professional begging.
Related terms[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Spangers and Song on Hawthorne, by Pam Hogeweide, November 2007
- ^ The Plague of Professional Panhandling, August 26, 2008, by Steven Malanga, The Dallas Morning News
- ^ 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
- ^ What can we do about spangers?, The Portland Mercury, Questionland
- ^ Atlanta ‘Giving Meters’ Program off to Slow Start, by Jay Black, WSB News, March 28, 2009