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scut·tle¹

(skŭtl)

1. A small opening or hatch with a movable lid in the deck or hull of a ship or in the roof, wall, or floor of a building.

2. The lid or hatch of such an opening.

tr.v. scut·tled, scut·tling, scut·tles

1. Nautical

a. To cut or open a hole or holes in (a ship's hull).

b. To sink (a ship) by this means.

2. To thwart, ruin, or terminate: “a program [the] President ... sought to scuttle” (Christian Science Monitor).

[Early Middle English skottell, probably ultimately (perhaps via Middle French escoutille) from Spanish escotilla, from escotar, to trim or widen the collar of (a garment), possibly from Gothic skauts, skaut-, hem; see skeud- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

scut·tle²

(skŭtl)

1. A metal pail for carrying coal.

2. A shallow open basket for carrying vegetables, flowers, or grain.

[Middle English scutel, basket, from Old English, dish, from Latin scutella; see SCULLERY.]

scut·tle³

(skŭtl)

intr.v. scut·tled, scut·tling, scut·tles

To run or move with short hurried movements; scurry.

A hurried run.

[Middle English scottlen; possibly akin to SCUD.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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