American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth
Edition - n. 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. - n. The lid or hatch of such an opening. - v.
Nautical To cut or open a hole or holes in (a ship's hull). - v.
Nautical To sink (a ship) by this means. - v. Informal To scrap;
discard: "a program [the] President . . . sought to scuttle” (
Christian Science Monitor). - n. A metal pail for carrying coal.
- n. A shallow open basket for carrying vegetables, flowers, or
grain. - v. To run or move with short hurried movements; scurry.
- n. A hurried run. Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia - n. A
broad, shallow dish; a platter. Compare scuttle-dish. - n. A
deep vessel of sheet-iron, copper, or brass, used for holding
coal in small amounts; a coal-scuttle or coal-hod. See coal-
scuttle. - n. A swabber used for cleaning a bakers' oven. - n.
Nautical, a small hatchway or opening in the deck, with a lid
for covering it; also, a l