goofball

plural goofballs

1. derogatoryendearinginformaloftensometimesA 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. informalmedicineA pill or tablet containing a pharmaceutical which has hypnotic or intoxicating effects, especially a barbiturate.

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

   1953 April 27, “Capsules”, in Time

   1 more example

   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.

   1957 September 5, Jack Kerouac, On the Road, New York, N.Y.: Viking Press, →OCLC

1. informalnot comparableSilly.

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