scuttle

UK: /ˈskʌt^əl/ US: /ˈskʌtəl/ ,(skut′l)

Inflections of 'scuttle' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

scuttles

v 3rd person singular

scuttling

v pres p

scuttled

v past

scuttled

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

scut•tle¹ /ˈskʌtəl/   n. [countable]

1. Mining a deep bucket for carrying coal.
2. British Terms a broad, shallow basket.

scut•tle² /ˈskʌtəl/   v. [no object] , -tled, -tling. 

1. to run with short, quick steps:
   mice scuttling along the floor.

scut•tle³ /ˈskʌtəl/   n., v., -tled, -tling. 
n. [countable]

1. • Naval Terms a small hatch in the deck, side, or bottom of a vessel.
   • Naval Terms a cover for this.

v. [~ + object]

2. Nautical, Naval Terms to sink (a vessel) deliberately by opening hatches:
   Prepare to scuttle the ship.
3. to abandon or destroy (plans, etc.):
   He scuttled his plans to run for president.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

scut•tle¹  (skut′l), n. 

1. Mining a deep bucket for carrying coal.
2. British Terms a broad, shallow basket.

• Latin scutella, diminutive of scutra shallow pan
• bef. 1050; Middle English; Old English scutel dish, trencher, platter

scut•tle²  (skut′l), v., -tled, -tling, n. 
v.i. 

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

n. 

2. a quick pace.
3. a short, hurried run.

• late Middle English scottlynge (gerund, gerundive), variant of scuddle, frequentative of scud¹ 1400–50

Synonyms

• 1. hasten, hurry, scamper, scramble.

scut•tle³  (skut′l), n., v., -tled, -tling. 
n. 

1. [Naut.]
   • Naval Terms a small hatch or port in the deck, side, or bottom of a vessel.
   • Naval Terms a cover for this.
2. a small hatchlike opening in a roof or ceiling.

v.t. 

3. Nautical, Naval Terms to sink (a vessel) deliberately by opening seacocks or making openings in the bottom.
4. to abandon, withdraw from, or cause to be abandoned or destroyed (as plans, hopes, rumors, etc.).

• Gothic skaut seam; akin to sheet¹) + -illa diminutive suffix
• perh. Spanish escotilla hatchway, equivalent. to escot(e) a cutting of cloth (1490–1500

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

scuttle / ˈskʌt^əl/ noun

1. See coal scuttle
2. a shallow basket, esp for carrying vegetables
3. the part of a motor-car body lying immediately behind the bonnet

Etymology: 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

scuttle / ˈskʌt^əl/ verb

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

noun

1. a hurried pace or run

Etymology: 15th Century: perhaps from scud, influenced by shuttle

scuttle / ˈskʌt^əl/ verb

1. (transitive) to cause (a vessel) to sink by opening the seacocks or making holes in the bottom
2. (transitive) to give up (hopes, plans, etc)

noun

1. a small hatch or its cover

Etymology: 15th Century (n): via Old French from Spanish escotilla a small opening, from escote opening in a piece of cloth, from escotar to cut out