scuttle

¹

[ skuht-l ]

noun

1. Nautical.
   1. a small hatch or port in the deck, side, or bottom of a vessel.
   2. a cover for this.
2. a small hatchlike opening in a roof or ceiling.

verb (used with object)

, scut·tled, scut·tling.

1. to sink (a vessel) deliberately, especially by opening seacocks or making openings in the hull.
2. to abandon, withdraw from, or cause to be abandoned or destroyed (as plans, hopes, rumors, etc.).

scuttle

²

[ skuht-l ]

verb (used without object)

, scut·tled, scut·tling.

1. to run with quick, hasty steps; scurry.

   Synonyms: scramble, scamper, hurry, hasten

noun

1. a quick pace.
2. a short, hurried run.

scuttle

³

[ skuht-l ]

noun

1. a deep bucket for carrying coal.
2. British Dialect. a broad, shallow basket.

scuttle

¹

/ ˈskʌtəl /

verb

1. intr to run or move about with short hasty steps

noun

1. a hurried pace or run

scuttle

²

/ ˈskʌtəl /

noun

1. See coal scuttle
   See coal scuttle
2. dialect.
   a shallow basket, esp for carrying vegetables
3. the part of a motor-car body lying immediately behind the bonnet

scuttle

³

/ ˈskʌtəl /

verb

1. tr nautical to cause (a vessel) to sink by opening the seacocks or making holes in the bottom
2. tr to give up (hopes, plans, etc)

noun

1. nautical a small hatch or its cover

Word History and Origins

Origin of scuttle¹

First recorded in 1490–1500; of obscure origin; perhaps from Middle French escoutille or Spanish escotilla “hatchway,” equivalent to Spanish escot(e) “a cutting of cloth” + -illa, diminutive suffix; of Germanic origin; compare Gothic skaut “hem, seam”; sheet ¹( def ) )

Origin of scuttle²

First recorded in 1450–1500; late Middle English scottlynge “scampering” (gerund), variant of scuddle, frequentative of scud ¹

Origin of scuttle³

First recorded in before 1050; Middle English scutel(le), scuttel “dish, basket, winnowing fan,” Old English scutel “dish, trencher, platter,” from Latin scutella, diminutive of scutra “shallow dish, pan”

Word History and Origins

Origin of scuttle¹

C15: perhaps from scud , influenced by shuttle

Origin of scuttle²

Old English scutel trencher, from Latin scutella bowl, diminutive of scutra platter; related to Old Norse skutill, Old High German scuzzila, perhaps to Latin scūtum shield

Origin of scuttle³

C15 (n): via Old French from Spanish escotilla a small opening, from escote opening in a piece of cloth, from escotar to cut out

Example Sentences

By one count, 20 industry lobbyists were in the halls trying to scuttle SB 962 as it came to a vote nine days later.

From The Daily Beast

An ostentatious display of Japanese military might could scuttle those negotiations.

From The Daily Beast

Bryk came in third, but he notes with pride that he bested the coal scuttle helmet man in his home county.

From The Daily Beast

Any disagreement we had with them was criticized as an attempt to scuttle the building of the memorial.

From The Daily Beast

Marco Rubio, on the other hand, led the GOP effort to scuttle the thing on abortion-related grounds.

From The Daily Beast

And Robinson heard him scuttle about and hastily convene small boys and dispatch them down the road to look at an honest man.

From Project Gutenberg

In a minute or two, a black head was seen to rise slowly and fearfully out of the fore-scuttle, then it disappeared.

From Project Gutenberg

The water then flowed in from the top through the deck scuttle forward of the collision bulkhead.

From Project Gutenberg

It was by this scuttle that access was obtained to all the decks below C down to the peak tank top on the orlop deck.

From Project Gutenberg

The fore-scuttle hatch was closed to keep everything dark before the bridge.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• scamper
• scurry