▪ I. scuttling, vbl. n.1
(ˈskʌt(ə)lɪŋ)
[f. scuttle v.1 + -ing1.]
The action of scuttle v.1
| a 1450 Mankind in Macro Plays 4 Nought. Ȝys, Mary, I prey yow, for I loue not þis rewelynge [sc. of dancing]... Go to! for I haue hade a praty scottlynge. Mercy. Nay, brother, I wyll not daunce. 1873 ‘Cuthbert Bede’ Little Mr. Bouncer 147 The scuttling of rabbits in and out of their holes. 1884 [see scuttler1 1 a]. 1890 [see scuttle v.1 2]. 1894 Hall Caine Manxman iv. xiv. 256 It was the scuttling of the feet of the towns-people as they ran to meet the procession. |
▪ II. scuttling, vbl. n.2
(ˈskʌt(ə)lɪŋ)
[f. scuttle v.2 + -ing1.]
The action of scuttle v.2
| 1622 Sir R. Hawkins Voy. S. Sea xvii. 40 Great care is to be had also..in Hooping or Scutling of Caske. 1748 Anson's Voy. ii. xiii. 269 The other ships..were prepared for scuttling. 1877 Gladstone Glean. IV. xx. 350 It does not at once appear how the Canal could be secured against the furtive scuttling of ships. |
▪ III. scuttling, ppl. a.
(ˈskʌt(ə)lɪŋ)
[f. scuttle v.1 + -ing2.]
That scuttles; characterized by scuttling.
| 1895 C. R. B. Barrett Surrey vii. 171 A stray water-hen made a flapping, scuttling progress across the pool. 1900 Longm. Mag. Apr. 541 A couple of skulking scuttling spies. 1904 Ibid. Dec. 122 The patter of scuttling sheep could be heard on the soft turf. |