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spitball

[ spit-bawl ]
/ ˈspɪtˌbɔl /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR spitball

noun

a small ball or lump of chewed paper used as a missile.
Also called spitter. Baseball. a pitch, illegal since 1920, made to curve by moistening one side of the ball with saliva or other slippery substance, as perspiration or petroleum jelly

verb (used with or without object)

Informal. to throw out new ideas by engaging in spontaneous and unfiltered brainstorming: I’m just spitballing here, but I think we should ask the interns to test the product at home.Now that the film is in production, it’s too late to spitball an alternate ending.

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Origin of spitball

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50; spit1 + ball1

Words nearby spitball

spissatus, spissitude, spit, spital, spit and polish, spitball, spitballer, spitchcock, spit curl, spite, spite fence
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to spitball

urge, offer, nominate, request, introduce, come up with, submit, recommend, ask, proffer, broach, set forth, visualize, develop, envision, formulate, devise, originate, produce, design

Example sentences from the Web for spitball