goofball

English

Etymology

goof +‎ ball

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈɡufˌbɔl/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -uːfbɔːl

Noun

goofball (plural goofballs)

1. (informal, often derogatory, sometimes endearing) A foolish or silly person or animal.

   If that goofball would put half the effort into her studies as she does into her juggling, she might do very well.

2. (informal, pharmacology) A pill or tablet containing a pharmaceutical which has hypnotic or intoxicating effects, especially a barbiturate.
   • 1953 April 27, “Capsules”, in Time:

     Strong Cobb & Co. of Cleveland announced a new barbiturate which in overlarge doses will turn the stomachs of "goofball" addicts and would-be suicides.

   • 1957, Jack Kerouac, On the Road, Viking Press, →OCLC:

     That night Marylou took everything in the books; she took tea, goofballs, benny, liquor, and even asked Old Bull for a shot of M, which of course he didn’t give her; he did give her a martini.

Translations

a foolish or silly person

• Dutch: sufferd (nl), idioot (nl)
• French: abruti (fr) m, cloche (fr) f, nouille (fr) f
• Russian: дурачок (ru) m (duračok)
• Serbo-Croatian: bedak (sh) m, blesan (sh) m

Adjective

goofball (not comparable)

1. (informal) Silly.

   He announced, with his usual goofball humor, that he'd like to marry me!

See also

• oddball
• screwball