scuttle
UK[ˈskʌt(ə)l]US[ˈskʌt(ə)l]
v
to run with quick, short steps, especially because you are afraid or do not want to be noticed
v
to deliberately cause a plan, agreement, etc. to fail
n
a container with a handle, used for carrying coal
Etymology
The verb 'scuttle' meaning 'to run hurriedly' is of uncertain origin, possibly related to the dialectal verb 'scuddle', a frequentative form of 'scud'. The nautical verb 'scuttle', meaning 'to sink a ship by making holes in it', and by extension 'to deliberately ruin a plan', comes from the Spanish 'escotilla' or the French 'escoutille', meaning 'hatchway'. The act of opening the hatches to sink a ship led to the figurative sense of sabotaging an endeavor. The noun for a coal container is a separate word, derived from Old Norse 'skutill', related to a drinking bowl or pail, showing how distinct historical paths can converge on an identical modern spelling.
Analysis
This word is a simplex. It is a loanword and its modern spelling does not transparently reflect separable, meaningful morphemes from its source languages.
Examples
A crab scuttled away under a rock as we approached.
The opposition party accused the government of trying to scuttle the peace talks.
He filled the scuttle with fresh coal for the fireplace.