scuttlebutt
Americannoun
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Nautical.
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an open cask of drinking water.
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a drinking fountain for use by the crew of a vessel.
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Informal. rumor or gossip.
noun
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a drinking fountain
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(formerly) a cask of drinking water aboard a ship
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slang rumour or gossip
Etymology
Origin of scuttlebutt
1795–1805; 1900–05 scuttlebutt for def. 2; scuttle 1 + butt 4
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That’s because the scuttlebutt on the grounds has been that the gnome is heading for retirement.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 10, 2026
To the millions who greedily gobbled up scuttlebutt about her legendary meanness over the years, this is far from a news flash.
From Salon ● Oct. 30, 2024
I’ve heard scuttlebutt from the donor community, some of whom are reportedly miffed to have their microscopically printed names out of circulation.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 23, 2022
Neighborhood scuttlebutt claims these glass panels were skylights upcycled from a 1930s factory near the Duwamish River.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 15, 2022
But any Marine worth his salt can tell you that it’s not a bad idea to listen to the scuttlebutt.
From "Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two" by Joseph Bruchac
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
