scuttle

¹ American  

[skuht-l] / ˈskʌt 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.

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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 American  

[skuht-l] / ˈskʌt l /

verb (used without object)

scuttled, scuttling

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

   Synonyms:

   scramble, scamper, hurry, hasten

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noun

1. a quick pace.

2. a short, hurried run.

scuttle ³ American  

[skuht-l] / ˈskʌt l /

noun

1. a deep bucket for carrying coal.

2. British Dialect. a broad, shallow basket.

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scuttle ¹ British  

/ 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

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scuttle ² British  

/ 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)

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noun

1. nautical a small hatch or its cover

scuttle ³ British  

/ ˈskʌtəl /

verb

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

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noun

1. a hurried pace or run

Etymology

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”; see also 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”

Explanation

When you scuttle, you move with quick anxious steps, like a bug running for cover when a light is turned on. Use the word scuttle when you want to describe running or fast walking that’s characterized by short, hasty steps, like someone or something that tries to hurry — a person who is late for work scuttling through a crowd of slow-moving pedestrians — but can't. Scuttle has a number of other meanings. As a noun, it can refer to a container for coal or a hatch on a ship. If you scuttle a plan, you cancel or undermine it.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

scuttle scuttled scuttling

This litany of defeat includes showy federal efforts to scuttle mergers and acquisitions involving Whole Foods and Wild Oats, AT&T and Time Warner, and Microsoft and Activision.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

And what does success in these negotiations look like - a fully-formed peace deal, or just productive initial talks that don't scuttle the temporary ceasefire?

From BBC ● Apr. 10, 2026

Tillis withholding his vote could delay the nomination vote but is unlikely to scuttle the nomination, said Stephen Myrow, Beacon Policy Advisors managing partner.

From Barron's ● Jan. 30, 2026

Demanding that Netflix sign off on the long-term licensing of Warner content to other broadcasters would also likely scuttle its bid.

From MarketWatch ● Dec. 22, 2025

Gale and I drop to the street, scuttle the ten yards to the shops, and take cover behind a display of spike-heeled boots outside a shoe seller’s.

From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins

The agreement is probably too advantageous to be completely scuttled, but its limits can be stretched.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026

By 1992, more than $50 million had been spent in restoration and renovation, but the project was scuttled by a bankruptcy.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 11, 2026

The CEO’s dismissal scuttled any hopes of a quick reset.

From Barron's ● Jun. 10, 2026

But a merger with Ares Acquisition, a blank check company backed by the Los Angeles firm, was scuttled in October 2023 as investors cooled on special-purpose acquisition companies and became cautious on new issues.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 24, 2026

I handed the paper back and scuttled under my blanket.

From "Beyond the Bright Sea" by Lauren Wolk

His greatest sadness was for Lacey, who should have had his name in lights but instead was part of a team scuttling off the pitch to the sound of boos and harsher criticism.

From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026

American lawmakers are already angling to have their say in approving or scuttling the accord.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 15, 2026

And so, some still mull just scuttling the agency.

From Slate ● Jun. 15, 2026

The EU ended up accepting it instead of scuttling a deal altogether.

From Barron's ● Feb. 3, 2026

"Brast your costard, have I? Well, it serves you right, for all your mischief. What are you up to, scuttling about behind the stage like a great rat?"

From "The Shakespeare Stealer" by Gary L. Blackwood

Related Words

• scamper
• scurry