spitball

Etymology

From spit + ball.

noun

  1. 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

  1. To moisten the ball with saliva before pitching it.
  2. To brainstorm ideas.“Maybe, and I'm just spitballing here, maybe, we have a responsibility as officers to train Santiago.”