A CB handle is a short but memorable nickname used by a citizen's band radio enthusiast while broadcasting. A typical CB handle might be "Lucky Dave" or "Big Red", or even something less likely to be copied, such as "Skinky Do-Rag" or "Mister Dodo Head." The point of a CB handle is to create a unique identity while communicating with others on a CB radio channel. In a sense, a CB handle is the forerunner of the avatars and nicks often created for anonymity while participating in web chats or online forums.

Sometimes a CB handle reveals something about the user's occupation, such as "Mama Flapjacks" or "Gas Hog." This CB handle shorthand could come in very handy for other CBers looking for a good restaurant or gas station nearby. Other regular CB users may have more obscure CB handles, such as an explosives hauler calling himself "Nervous Charlie" or a school bus driver calling herself "Mama Hen." A good CB handle often lets others know something interesting about the user.

Another typical CB handle could describe a personal hobby or interest. CB radio listeners might discover "Quilting Bee" or "Old Fisherman" chatting on the airwaves, for example. An avid football fan might use the CB handle "Pigskin Pete," or a baseball fan might use "Hammering Tony." When it comes to selecting a CB handle based on a personal interest, the trick is to keep it short, memorable and as unique as possible. Because the frequencies assigned to citizens' band radio usage are regulated by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC), obscene or offensive CB handles are generally discouraged.

Originally, CB radio users had to apply for a license and use an assigned series of call letters as personal identifiers. When the FCC allowed 23 channels (later raised to 40) to be used by unlicensed citizens, the call letter system gave way to the more informal use of a unique CB handle. During the 1970s, CB radio usage became extremely popular in the United States, and certain CB handles and the personalities behind them became infamous. CB lingo also became a popular form of communication among those in the know.

So if you ever run into "Big Brain" driving his pregnant roller skate just outside Shaky Town, you'll know you've just encountered a wiseGEEK writer tooling around Los Angeles in his 1967 Volkswagen Beetle.