scuttle

Scuttle is a term with several related meanings in English, spanning objects and actions. It can refer to a container for coal, a small hatch or opening on a ship, or the act of deliberately sinking or abandoning something.

Coal scuttle describes a freestanding container used to store and carry coal near a fireplace. Traditional coal scuttles are metal or ceramic, often with a handle and a hinged lid or a balanced mouth to keep coal dry and contained while bringing fuel to the fire.

In nautical contexts, a scuttle is a hatch or opening in a ship’s deck or hull that can be covered by a hinged or removable lid. Scuttles provide access to compartments, ventilation, or drainage. They vary in size and design but share the function of an accessible entry point or vent on a vessel.

As a verb, to scuttle means to deliberately sink a vessel by making holes or opening seacocks, or more broadly, to sabotage or abandon a plan, project, or proposal. In everyday usage, scuttling a plan implies taking action to prevent its realization, often through withdrawal of support or decisive countermeasures.

See also: scuttling (naval practice); coal scuttle.