I. ˈskəd. ə l, -ət ə l noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English scutel, from Latin scutella drinking bowl, tray, diminutive of scutra flat plate, platter; perhaps akin to Latin scutum shield — more at esquire
1. : a shallow open basket of wood or wickerwork for carrying something (as grain or garden produce)
2. : coal scuttle
3. Britain : cowl 3c
4. : a large glass for beer or ale
scuttle of studs
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English skottell, probably from Old Spanish escotilla
1. : a small opening in an outside wall or covering furnished with a lid: as
a. : a small opening or hatchway in the deck of a ship large enough to admit a man and with a lid for covering it
b. : a small hole in the side or bottom of a ship furnished with a lid or glazed
c. : an opening in the roof or a floor of a house fitted with a lid
2. : a lid that covers or closes a scuttle
III. transitive verb
( scuttled ; scuttled ; scuttling -d. ə liŋ, -t( ə )liŋ ; scuttles )
1. : to cut a hole through the bottom, deck, or sides of (a ship) ; specifically : to sink or attempt to sink by making holes through the bottom of
2.
a. : to damage severely or destroy completely
war was in full swing, and this effectually scuttled my family's travel plans — Polly Adler
b. : abandon
the overtime provisions of the old contract were scuttled in the new agreement — New York Times
IV. noun
( -s )
Etymology: alteration of cuttle (I)
1. : cuttlefish
2. : octopus
V. intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: probably blend of scud (I) and shuttle v.
1. : to move with or as if with short rapidly alternating steps : scurry
a tiny man came scuttling in by another door — Gordon Merrick
armies of brown fiddler crabs scuttle across the road — American Guide Series: Florida
a little motorcar so small that it scuttled up the road … with the abruptness of a wound-up toy — Thomas Wolfe
2. : to withdraw from or abandon a possession or country once occupied or a policy or obligation in a hasty manner
scuttling out of our responsibilities in the Middle East — New Statesman & Nation
VI. noun
( -s )
1.
a. : a quick shuffling pace
a chimpanzee can easily run away and escape from a man with its half-quadrupedal, half-bipedal scuttle — Weston La Barre
b. : a short swift run
suddenly made a last frantic scuttle — A.J.Cronin
2. : hurried withdrawal from occupation or control of a country or area
follow up … an electoral reversal by an Imperial scuttle — New Statesman & Nation