spitball

See also: spit-ball

English

Etymology

spit +‎ ball

Noun

spitball (plural spitballs)

1. (baseball) A pitch of a baseball that has been partly covered with saliva, illegal at most levels.
2. A balled-up piece of paper, moistened with saliva (by chewing) and shot through a drinking straw.

Verb

spitball (third-person singular simple present spitball, present participle ing, simple past and past participle spitballed)

1. (baseball) To moisten the ball with saliva before pitching it.
2. To brainstorm ideas.
   • 1950s.
   • 1992, A Few Good Men, Maybe, and I'm just spitballing here, maybe, we have a responsibility as officers to train Santiago.
   • 2008, Role Models, 01:09:07.

     - Yes, Wheeler?
     - Question. Maybe a stupid one, but I'm just spitballing here.

Derived terms

• spitballer

Anagrams

• ball pits