scuttlebutt

(skut'l but′)

noun

  1. Naut. a drinking fountain on shipboard
  2. Informal rumor or gossip

Origin: orig. < scuttled butt, a cask or butt with an opening for a dipper

See scuttlebutt in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. Slang Gossip; rumor.
  2. Nautical
    a. A drinking fountain on a ship.
    b. A cask on a ship used to hold the day's supply of drinking water.

Origin:

Origin: scuttle1

Origin: + butt5

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