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scuttle¹ Definition

scut·tle (skut'l)

noun

  1. a broad, open basket for carrying grain, vegetables, etc.
  2. a kind of bucket, usually with a wide lip, used for pouring coal on a fire

Etymology: ME scutel, a dish < OE < L scutella, salver, dim. of scutra, flat dish

scuttle² Definition

scut·tle (skut'l)

intransitive verb -·tled, -·tling

to run or move quickly; scurry, esp. away from danger, trouble, etc.

Etymology: ME scutlen, prob. akin to scud

noun

a scurry or scamper; hasty flight

scuttle³ Definition

scut·tle (skut'l)

noun

  1. an opening in a wall or roof, fitted with a lid or cover
  2. a small, covered opening or hatchway in the outer hull or deck of a ship
  3. the lid or cover for any such opening

Etymology: LME skottelle < MFr escoutille, trapdoor < Sp escotilla, an indentation, hollowing < escote, a notch, tuck, prob. < Goth skauts, seam, border; akin to OE sceat, sheet

transitive verb -·tled, -·tling

  1. to make or open holes in the hull of (a ship or boat) below the waterline; esp., to sink in this way
  2. to scrap or abandon (a plan, undertaking, etc.)

scuttle Synonyms

scuttle

v.

  1. To destroy

    submerge, abandon, dismantle; see destroy 1, sink 2.

  2. To hurry

    scurry, scramble, sprint; see hasten 1, run 2.

scuttle Usage Examples

Object

  • shake: Are you put off by the irritating scuttle shake common to almost every convertible?
  • fleet: Admiral Von Reuter, the man in charge, fearing the break down of negotiations, made plans to scuttle the fleet.
  • ship: Rather than let the Cormoran fall into American hands, they scuttled the ship.
  • panel: Guards, bonnet top and top scuttle panel are steel as Mike had informed me over the ' phone.
  • charge: Whilst surrender talks were going on the Germans abandoned ship and scuttling charges detonated her magazine, ending the last of Spee's squadron.
  • vessel: By evening a gale running down both sides of the Scottish mainland and small coastal vessels scuttled for shelter.

Preposition: across

  • floor: Then, dynamically, Cosmic bounded in, hurdling the step into the library, and scuttled across the floor.

Adjective complement

  • German: Dive on the wrecks of the scuttled German High Sea Fleet.

Modifying Another Word

  • away: Scuttling away from their glowing light gems numerous rats made for whatever shadows they could find.
  • back: Others might be able to survive just long enough to scuttle back into the sea.
  • about: Typically found scuttling about in vegetation or in the surface layers of bottom sediments, occasionally in open water.
  • then: So America control ' most of ' the place in the day and then scuttle when night time falls.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • off: Fishing for the camera, I scuttled off across the ridge to await the sunrise.
  • around: These creatures would have scuttled around just under the water.
  • out: He ran at me but I jumped out of the way and he scuttled out of the kitchen and under the nearby toilet door.

Followed by a transitive particle

  • down: It was little more than a shadow, and it scuttled down the darkened hall fast, like a little patch of night.
  • up: And he scuttled up the moonlight floor, Where and owl glided over the shadowy trees.
  • around: Got sorted and started to scuttle around the three remaining boilers.
  • off: To date, 2.9 million copies have scuttled off the UK's shelves.

Noun used with modifier

  • coal: They make rather neat little coal scuttles, or plant pots.

Browse dictionary entries near scuttle

  1. scutter
  2. scutiform
  3. scutellum
  4. scutellation
  5. scutellate
  6. scute
  7. scutcheon
  8. scutch
  9. scutate
  10. Scutari
  1. scuttlebutt
  2. scutum
  3. scuzz
  4. scuzzy
  5. Scylla
  6. scyphistoma
  7. scyphozoan
  8. scyphus
  9. Scyros
  10. scythe