Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense scuttles, present participle scuttling, past tense, past participle scuttled
1. verb
When people or small animals scuttle somewhere, they run there with short quick steps.
Two very small children scuttled away in front of them. [VERB adverb/preposition]
Crabs scuttle along the muddy bank. [VERB adverb/preposition]
Synonyms: run, scurry, scamper, rush More Synonyms of scuttle
2. verb
To scuttle a plan or a proposal means to make it fail or cause it to stop.
Such threats could scuttle the peace conference. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: wreck, destroy, ruin, overwhelm More Synonyms of scuttle
3. verb
To scuttle a ship means to sink it deliberately by making holes in the bottom.
He personally had received orders from the commander to scuttle the ship. [VERB noun]
[Also VERB]
4. countable noun
A scuttle is the same as a coal scuttle.
[mainly British]
scuttle in British English1
(ˈskʌtəl)
noun
1. coal scuttle
2. dialect, mainly British
a shallow basket, esp for carrying vegetables
3.
the part of a motor-car body lying immediately behind the bonnet
Word origin
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 in British English2
(ˈskʌtəl)
verb
1. (intransitive)
to run or move about with short hasty steps
noun
2.
a hurried pace or run
Word origin
C15: perhaps from scud, influenced by shuttle
scuttle in British English3
(ˈskʌtəl)
verb
1. (transitive) nautical
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
3. nautical
a small hatch or its cover
Word origin
C15 (n): via Old French from Spanish escotilla a small opening, from escote opening in a piece of cloth, from escotar to cut out
scuttle in American English1
(ˈskʌtəl)
verb intransitiveWord forms: ˈscuttled or ˈscuttling
1.
to run or move quickly; scurry, esp. away from danger, trouble, etc.
noun
2.
a scurry or scamper; hasty flight
Word origin
ME scutlen, prob. akin to scud
scuttle in American English2
(ˈskʌtəl)
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
: in full coal scuttle
Word origin
ME scutel, a dish < OE < L scutella, salver, dim. of scutra, flat dish
scuttle in American English3
(ˈskʌtəl)
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
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈscuttled or ˈscuttling
4.
to make or open holes in the hull of (a ship or boat) below the waterline; esp., to sink in this way
5.
to scrap or abandon (a plan, undertaking, etc.)
Word origin
LME skottelle < MFr escoutille, trapdoor < Sp escotilla, an indentation, hollowing < escote, a notch, tuck, prob. < Goth skauts, seam, border; akin to OE sceat, sheet1
scuttle in Automotive Engineering
(skʌtəl)
Word forms: (regular plural) scuttles
noun
(Automotive engineering: Vehicle components, Bodywork, controls, and accessories)
The scuttle is the lower, forward part of a driver's cab or passenger compartment that provides space for the legs of people in the car and separates them from theengine compartment.
The inner structure was strong, but the scuttle had been solidly welded half an inch too far to the left.
The wiper motor was mounted on the left-hand side under the scuttle.
The basis of the bodyshell is a punt-shaped structure which connects the front scuttle and rear bulkhead.
Examples of 'scuttle' in a sentence
scuttle
You gets used to the noise they makes scuttling about.
Frances Hodgson Burnett A Little Princess (1905)
It scuttled under the covers of our bed as we were turning in.
The Sun (2009)
He had brought his own coal scuttle helmet and wartime overcoat.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The raid succeeded in as much as two ships were successfully scuttled.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
On one wreck off the south coast we saw huge lobsters scuttling across the ship.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
But this is not the time to scuttle the ship.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The dad of two quickly slammed a takeaway box over the venomous creature to stop it scuttling away.
The Sun (2013)
Will this send him scuttling back to Stella?
The Sun (2007)
Out it came, and scuttled behind the wardrobe.
The Sun (2009)
Twice he brought in his walking stick, and once he brought in the coal scuttle.
Beatrix Potter The Tales of Beatrix Potter (1930)
He can't sleep for all their scuttling and scratching about.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
He did his duty, but he scuttled back to his seat as soon as he decently could.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
They were booed off by their own fans and scuttled away from the Bridge as fast as they could.
The Sun (2010)
A meeting to discuss tax and spending was interrupted by the rodent scuttling along the top of a sofa.
The Sun (2015)
He was in a chair, slumped forward, his head at rest in the coal scuttle.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Gwyneth strode to the head of the stairs and with a smug smile on her lips gazed down upon them as Maida scuttled behind her daughter's skirts.
Kathleen E. Woodiwiss THE WOLF AND THE DOVE
In other languages
scuttle
British English: scuttle VERB
When people or small animals scuttle somewhere, they run there with short quick steps.
Two very small children scuttled away in front of them.
American English: scuttle
Brazilian Portuguese: correr em passos curtos
Chinese: 碎步疾跑
European Spanish: escabullirse
French: détaler
German: trippeln
Italian: correre
Japanese: 急いで行く
Korean: 종종걸음으로 달리다
European Portuguese: correr em passos curtos
Latin American Spanish: escabullirse
1 (verb)
Definition
to run with short quick steps
Two very small children scuttled away.
Synonyms
run
I excused myself and ran back to the telephone.
scurry
The attack began, sending residents scurrying for cover.
scamper
The flash sent the foxes scampering away.
rush
Someone inside the building rushed out.
hurry
Claire hurried along the road.
scramble
More than a million fans are expected to scramble for tickets.
hare (British, informal)
bustle
My parents bustled around the kitchen.
beetle
scud
hasten
She hastened along the landing to her room.
scoot
He scooted up the stairs.
scutter (British, informal)
2 (verb)
Definition
to ruin (hopes or plans) or have them ruined
Such threats could scuttle the peace conference.
Synonyms
wreck
Vandals wrecked the garden.
destroy
The building was completely destroyed.
ruin
Roads have been destroyed and crops ruined.
overwhelm
One massive assault would overwhelm the weakened enemy.
disable
overthrow
foil
undo
Our hopes of a victory were undone by an error from the goalkeeper.
torpedo
put paid to
discomfit
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bustle
Definition
to hurry with a great show of energy or activity
My parents bustled around the kitchen.
Synonyms
hurry,
tear,
rush,
dash,
scramble,
fuss,
flutter,
beetle,
hasten,
scuttle,
scurry,
scamper
in the sense of destroy
Definition
to ruin
The building was completely destroyed.
Synonyms
ruin,
smash,
crush,
waste,
devastate,
break down,
wreck,
shatter,
gut,
wipe out,
dispatch,
dismantle,
demolish,
trash (slang),
total (slang),
ravage,
slay (archaic, literary),
eradicate,
torpedo,
extinguish,
desolate,
annihilate,
put paid to,
raze,
blow to bits,
extirpate (archaic),
blow sky-high
in the sense of hasten
She hastened along the landing to her room.
Synonyms
rush,
run,
race,
fly,
speed,
tear (along),
dash,
hurry (up),
barrel (along) (informal),
sprint,
bolt,
beetle,
scuttle,
scurry,
haste,
burn rubber (informal),
step on it (informal),
make haste,
get your skates on (informal)
Nearby words of
scuttle
scurrilous
scurry
scurvy
scuttle
sea
sea bird
sea mammal
Synonyms of 'scuttle'
scuttle
Explore 'scuttle' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of hurry
Definition
to move or act, or cause to move or act, in great haste
Claire hurried along the road.
Synonyms
rush,
fly,
dash,
barrel (along) (informal),
scurry,
scoot,
burn rubber (informal)
in the sense of overthrow
Synonyms
destroy,
level,
upset,
ruin,
overturn,
demolish,
put an end to,
subvert,
put paid to,
raze,
upend,
bring to ruin
in the sense of overwhelm
Definition
to overcome (people) with irresistible force
One massive assault would overwhelm the weakened enemy.
Synonyms
destroy,
beat,
defeat,
overcome,
smash,
crush,
massacre,
conquer,
wipe out,
overthrow,
knock out,
lick (informal),
subdue,
rout,
eradicate,
overpower,
quell,
annihilate,
put paid to,
vanquish (literary),
subjugate,
immobilize,
make mincemeat of (informal),
cut to pieces
in the sense of ruin
Definition
to destroy or spoil completely
Roads have been destroyed and crops ruined.
Synonyms
destroy,
devastate,
wreck,
trash (slang),
break,
total (slang),
defeat,
smash,
crush,
overwhelm,
shatter,
overturn,
overthrow,
bring down,
demolish,
raze,
lay waste,
lay in ruins,
wreak havoc upon,
bring to ruin,
bring to nothing,
kennet (Australian, slang),
jeff (Australian, slang)
in the sense of rush
Definition
to move or do very quickly
Someone inside the building rushed out.
Synonyms
hurry,
run,
race,
shoot,
fly,
career,
speed,
tear,
dash,
sprint,
scramble,
bolt,
dart,
hasten,
scurry,
stampede,
lose no time,
make short work of,
burn rubber (informal),
make haste,
hotfoot
in the sense of scamper
Definition
to run about hurriedly or quickly
The flash sent the foxes scampering away.
Synonyms
run,
dash,
dart,
fly,
hurry,
sprint,
romp,
beetle,
hasten,
scuttle,
scurry,
scoot,
hie (archaic)
in the sense of scoot
Definition
to leave or move quickly
He scooted up the stairs.
Synonyms
dash,
run,
dart,
sprint,
bolt,
zip,
scuttle,
scurry,
scamper,
skitter,
skedaddle (informal),
skirr
in the sense of scramble
Definition
to compete with others in a rough and undignified way
More than a million fans are expected to scramble for tickets.
Synonyms
strive,
rush,
contend,
vie,
run,
push,
hasten,
jostle,
jockey for position,
make haste
in the sense of scurry
Definition
to run quickly with short steps
The attack began, sending residents scurrying for cover.
Synonyms
hurry,
race,
dash,
fly,
sprint,
dart,
whisk,
skim,
beetle,
scud,
scuttle,
scoot,
scamper
in the sense of undo
Definition
to cause the downfall of
Our hopes of a victory were undone by an error from the goalkeeper.