Topic: WATER
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Sense: 1
| Date: | 1400-1500 |
| Origin: | Probably from scud + shuttle |
| Date: | 1600-1700 |
| Origin: | scuttle 'opening in the side of a ship' (15-21 centuries), probably from Old Spanish escotilla |
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scut‧tle1
1 [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to move quickly with short steps, especially because you are afraid and do not want to be noticed : A little lizard scuttled across the path.
A little lizard scuttled across the path.2 [transitive] American English to ruin or end someone's plans or chance of being successful - used especially in news reports [= scupper British English] The incident threatens to scuttle the peace process.
The incident threatens to scuttle the peace process.3 [transitive]TTW to sink a ship by making holes in the bottom, especially in order to prevent it being used by an enemy
