Read along with the three podcasts, or open the full dictionary entry for Scuttle for the definition, Arabic meaning, synonyms and example sentences.
Narrator: Today's word is "Scuttle" — verb, pronounced /ˈskʌtəl/, with the stress on "scut".
Narrator: To scuttle is to move with short, quick steps, or to deliberately sink a ship by making holes in it.
Narrator: In plain English, a crab scuttles sideways, or a navy scuttles a ship to prevent capture.
Narrator: It probably comes from a dialect word related to scud, meaning to move quickly.
Narrator: "To scuttle a plan" describes deliberately ruining or abandoning a plan.
Narrator: It differs from scurry because scuttle can also mean to sink a ship, whereas scurry is only about movement.
Narrator: "A scuttle" is a noun sense meaning a container, such as a coal scuttle.
Narrator: Nature, naval warfare, everyday speech and household objects all rely on the word scuttle.
Narrator: So remember: to scuttle is to hurry or to sink a ship, possibly from scud, to move quickly.
Speaker A: What does scuttle mean?
Speaker B: To hurry or sink! SCUTTLE probably comes from a dialect word related to scud, to move quickly, so it means to move with short steps, or to deliberately sink a ship.
Speaker A: So a crab scuttles sideways?
Speaker B: Yes — and a navy scuttles a ship!
Speaker A: Example sentences?
Speaker B: "Scuttle a plan"; "scuttle across the floor"; "scuttle the ship" — ruining, moving and sinking.
Speaker A: Common mistakes?
Speaker B: Don't confuse scuttle with scurry, because scuttle can also mean to sink or ruin, while scurry is only about movement.
Speaker A: Close relatives?
Speaker B: 'Scurry' the hurrying cousin, 'sink' the naval twin, 'scamper' the playful alternative. The word keeps its darting charm!
Speaker B: Let's use "scuttle" in AI prompts — useful for nature apps and naval tools.
Speaker A: So a prompt could frame nature?
Speaker B: Right. For a nature app, you'd write:
Prompt: Write a short description of a crab scuttling, naming two movements.
Speaker A: How about a naval tool?
Speaker B: Ask the model to narrate:
Prompt: Draft a short account of a navy scuttling a ship, naming one reason.
Speaker A: Could it help with a news bot?
Speaker B: Yes, you can frame plans:
Prompt: Summarise in two sentences how a scandal scuttles a political plan, naming one consequence.
Speaker A: One more?
Speaker B: For a household chatbot, try this:
Prompt: Write a short note on what a coal scuttle is, naming one use.
Scuttle — meaning in Arabic & definition More S courses GL Dictionary