spitball
See also: spit-ball
English
Etymology
Noun
spitball (plural spitballs)
- (baseball) A pitch of a baseball that has been partly covered with saliva, illegal at most levels.
- 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)
- (baseball) To moisten the ball with saliva before pitching it.
- 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.
- - Yes, Wheeler?