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Joined: Jan 2001
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Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
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There are many meanings to scuttle: scut[tle1 7skut4‘l8 n. 5ME scutel, a dish < OE < L scutella, salver, dim. of scutra, flat dish6 1 a broad, open basket for carrying grain, vegetables, etc. 2 a kind of bucket, usually with a wide lip, used for pouring coal on a fire: in full coal scuttle
scut[tle2 7skut4‘l8 vi. 3tled, 3tling 5ME scutlen, prob. akin to SCUD6 to run or move quickly; scurry, esp. away from danger, trouble, etc. n. a scurry or scamper; hasty flight
scut[tle3 7skut4‘l8 n. 5LME skottelle < MFr escoutille, trapdoor < Sp escotilla, an indentation, hollowing < escote, a notch, tuck, prob. < Goth skauts, seam, border; akin to OE sceat, SHEET16 1 an opening in a wall or roof, fitted with a lid or cover 2 a small, covered opening or hatchway in the outer hull or deck of a ship 3 the lid or cover for any such opening vt. 3tled, 3tling 1 to make or open holes in the hull of (a ship or boat) below the waterline; esp., to sink in this way 2 to scrap or abandon (a plan, undertaking, etc.)
And on long voyages, many a butt gets scuttled. Some get basckscuttled.
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Joined: Sep 2001
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296 |
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Joined: Jan 2001
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Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
T;he scuttlebutt was a barrel or cask of water that had been opened. Scuttlebutt was the gossip that centered acround it. I'm glad you didn't ask for a divinition of backscuttle.
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
>I'm glad you didn't ask for a divinition
well how about a pronouncement then, oh Second Master of the Divine Typo..
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 130
member
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member
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Sounds like scuttlebutt is the precursor to today's gossip heard 'round the water-cooler.
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Joined: Mar 2002
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2002
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Yeah...what would be a good word derived from that? Coolbuzz?
I wonder if I heard it on the 'grapevine' has a similar origin? ICLIU, but gotta close in a moment.
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Joined: Dec 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
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if I heard it on the 'grapevine' has a similar origin?Michael Quinion seems pretty confident on this: http://www.quinion.com/words/qa/qa-gra2.htm
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2002
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Thanks for that - it does seem a pretty clear and interesting derivation.
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