scut|tle

scut|tle¹ «SKUHT uhl», noun.

1. a kind of bucket for holding or carrying coal. SYNONYM(S): hod.

2. Obsolete. a broad, shallow basket, as for carrying grain or vegetables.

╂[Old English scutel < Latin scutella platter (diminutive) < scutra dish]

scut|tle² «SKUHT uhl», verb, -tled, -tling, noun.

–v.i.

to run with quick, hurried steps; scamper; scurry: »

The dogs scuttled off into the woods.

–n.

a short, hurried run.

╂[variant of earlier scuddle, frequentative of scud]

scut|tle³ «SKUHT uhl», noun, verb, -tled, -tling.

–n.

1. an opening in the deck or side of a ship, with a lid or cover.

2. an opening in a wall or roof, with a lid or cover.

3. the lid or cover for any such opening.

–v.t.

1. a) to cut a hole or holes through the bottom or sides of (a ship) to sink it: »

After the pirates captured the ship, they scuttled it.

b) to open the seacocks or valves of (a ship) to sink it.

2. to cut a hole or holes in the deck of (a ship) to salvage the cargo.

3. Figurative. a) to give up; let go: »

The West was willing to scuttle the present…government in favor of a truly neutralist one (Time).

b) to undermine; destroy: »

His weakness for the rash remark eventually would scuttle him (New Yorker).

╂[perhaps < Middle French escoutille < Spanish, or directly < Spanish escotilla hatchway, perhaps < a Germanic word]