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Definition of scuttlebutt

scuttlebutt

/ˈskʌt.əl.bʌt/
scut · tle · butt
Plural:scuttlebutts
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scuttlebutt Lexical Profile

scuttlebutt Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Informal rumor, gossip, or unverified chatter circulating within a group or workplace.

Example

"According to the latest office scuttlebutt, the two regional departments will merge before the end of the quarter."

2

On a ship, a cask with a hole cut in the side used to hold fresh drinking water for the crew, or a modern naval drinking fountain.

Example

"Sailors on nineteenth-century wooden vessels gathered around the scuttlebutt during breaks to draw their daily water rations."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

scurvy
scutellaria
scuttle
scuttlebutt
scutwork
scuzz
scuzzbag

Word Origin & Etymology

Originating in early 19th-century nautical terminology, the word combines 'scuttle' (a small opening or hatch) and 'butt' (a large cask or barrel), referring to the open water cask on a ship's deck around which sailors gathered to drink and exchange gossip.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Scuttlebutt. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/scuttlebutt
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