Etymology
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screwball (n.)

"eccentric person," 1933, U.S. slang, earlier as a type of erratic baseball pitch (1928), from a still earlier name for a type of twist imparted to the ball in cricket (1840) and a twisting shot in billiards (1849); from screw (n.) + ball (n.1). Screwball comedy is attested by 1937, in reference to the work of Carole Lombard.

updated on March 01, 2022

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