v. i. [ Cf. Scuttle, v. i. ] To run quickly; to scurry; to scuttle. [ Prov. Eng. ]

A mangy little jackal . . . cocked up his ears and tail, and scuttered across the shallows. Kipling. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. i. [ For scuddle, fr. scud. ] To run with affected precipitation; to hurry; to bustle; to scuddle. [ 1913 Webster ]

With the first dawn of day, old Janet was scuttling about the house to wake the baron. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A quick pace; a short run. Spectator. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. scutel a dish, platter; cf. Icel. skutill; both fr. L. scutella, dim. of scutra, scuta, a dish or platter; cf. scutum a shield. Cf. Skillet. ] 1. A broad, shallow basket. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A wide-mouthed vessel for holding coal: a coal hod. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Scuttled p. pr. & vb. n. Scuttling. ] 1. To cut a hole or holes through the bottom, deck, or sides of (as of a ship), for any purpose. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To sink by making holes through the bottom of; as, to scuttle a ship. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Hence: To defeat, frustrate, abandon, or cause to be abandoned; -- of plans, projects, actions, hopes; as, the review committee scuttled the project due to lack of funds. [ PJC ]

n. [ OF. escoutille, F. éscoutille, cf. Sp. escotilla; probably akin to Sp. escotar to cut a thing so as to make it fit, to hollow a garment about the neck, perhaps originally, to cut a bosom-shaped piece out, and of Teutonic origin; cf. D. schoot lap, bosom, G. schoss, Goth. skauts the hem of a garnment. Cf. Sheet an expanse. ] 1. A small opening in an outside wall or covering, furnished with a lid. Specifically: (a) (Naut.) A small opening or hatchway in the deck of a ship, large enough to admit a man, and with a lid for covering it, also, a like hole in the side or bottom of a ship. (b) An opening in the roof of a house, with a lid. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The lid or door which covers or closes an opening in a roof, wall, or the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

Scuttle butt, or
Scuttle cask (Naut.), a butt or cask with a large hole in it, used to contain the fresh water for daily use in a ship. Totten. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. See scuttle butt. [ PJC ]

2. A drinking fountain on board a ship or at a naval station. [ PJC ]

3. The latest gossip; rumors. [ PJC ]