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)

scuttled, scuttling 

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)

scuttled, scuttling 

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 /

noun

1. 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

²

/ 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

scuttle

³

/ ˈskʌtəl /

verb

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

noun

1. a hurried pace or run

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

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 scuttle²

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

Origin of scuttle³

C15: perhaps from _scud , influenced by _shuttle

Example Sentences

Just then, a hermit crab came scuttling over.

Read more on Literature

The accord scuttles a criminal trial that had been scheduled for June in Fort Worth, Texas.

Read more on Barron's

But as Roz stomped closer and closer, the pigeons scuttled out of the way to let her pass by.

Read more on Literature

In recent weeks they got an unlikely ally in loggers who said scuttling the U.S.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

SYDNEY—Australian consumer prices surged in the third quarter, scuttling any hope of a further interest rate cut this year, and potentially in 2026.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• scamper 
• scurry