scuttle
/ˈskʌt.l̩/noun, verb
scuttle is spelled S-C-U-T-T-L-E: 7 letters and 2 syllables. It appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 42,145th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, scuttle means “A container like an open bucket (usually to hold and carry coal)” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of scuttle is scuttles.
How many letters and syllables are in scuttle?
| Letters | 7: S-C-U-T-T-L-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 2 million words; the 42,145th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is scuttle?
Scuttle appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 42,145th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce scuttle?
- /ˈskʌt.l̩/
Scuttle has 2 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-au-scuttle.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of scuttle
- scuttles plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- skuttle
- scuttling participle, present
- scuttled participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does scuttle mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A container like an open bucket (usually to hold and carry coal).
- 2
A broad, shallow basket.
- 3
ScotlandobsoleteA dish, platter or a trencher.
- 4
A small hatch or opening in a boat, sometimes one used for draining water from open deck.
- 5
A drained trough between the windscreen and bonnet of a motor vehicle, forming the intake to the heating/air-conditioning system, often also containing the windscreen wiper motor.
- 6
By extension, the bulkhead at the front of the passenger compartment.
- 7
A hatch that provides access to the roof from the interior of a building.
- 8
A quick pace; a short run.
verb
- 1
To cut a hole or holes through the bottom, deck, or sides of (as of a ship), for any purpose.
- 2
To deliberately sink one's ship or boat by any means, usually by order of the vessel's commander or owner.
The Vichy French fleet in Toulon in 1942 scuttled itself as a final "fuck you" to the invading Germans.
- 3
To deliberately wreck one's vehicle (of any sort).
- 4
To undermine or thwart oneself or one's position or property, especially deliberately.
The candidate had scuttled his chances with his unhinged outburst.
- 5
To move hastily, to scurry.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Scuttle in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| German | Eimer, Kohleneimer, Kohlenschütte , Luke, Bullauge , Ausstiegsluke |
| Spanish | carbonera , escotilla , barrenar |
| French | écoutille , saborder, saboter |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does scuttle come from?
From Middle English scuttel, scutel, from Old English scutel (“dish, platter”), from Latin scutella, diminutive form of Latin scutra (“flat tray, dish”), perhaps related to Latin scutum (“shield”); compare Dutch schotel and German Schüssel.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).