scuttle

1
[ skuht-l ]
See synonyms for: scuttlescuttledscuttling on Thesaurus.com
noun

  1. Nautical.

    • a small hatch or port in the deck, side, or bottom of a vessel.

    • 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.).

Origin of scuttle

1
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”; see also sheet1)

Words Nearby scuttle

Other definitions for scuttle (2 of 3)

scuttle2
[ skuht-l ]
verb (used without object),scut·tled, scut·tling.

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

noun

  1. a quick pace.

  2. a short, hurried run.

Origin of scuttle

2
First recorded in 1450–1500; late Middle English scottlynge “scampering” (gerund), variant of scuddle, frequentative of scud1

Other words for scuttle

Other definitions for scuttle (3 of 3)

scuttle3
[ skuht-l ]
noun

  1. a deep bucket for carrying coal.

  2. British Dialect. a broad, shallow basket.

Origin of scuttle

3
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”

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use scuttle in a sentence

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

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

    Newton Forster | Captain Frederick Marryat

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

    Loss of the Steamship 'Titanic' | British Government

  • 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.

    Loss of the Steamship 'Titanic' | British Government

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

    Loss of the Steamship 'Titanic' | British Government

British Dictionary definitions for scuttle (1 of 3)

scuttle1

/ (ˈskʌtəl) /

noun

  1. See coal scuttle

  2. dialect, mainly British a shallow basket, esp for carrying vegetables

  1. the part of a motor-car body lying immediately behind the bonnet

Origin of scuttle

1
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

British Dictionary definitions for scuttle (2 of 3)

scuttle2

/ (ˈskʌtəl) /

verb

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

noun

  1. a hurried pace or run

Origin of scuttle

2
C15: perhaps from scud, influenced by shuttle

British Dictionary definitions for scuttle (3 of 3)

scuttle3

/ (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

Origin of scuttle

3
C15 (n): via Old French from Spanish escotilla a small opening, from escote opening in a piece of cloth, from escotar to cut out

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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