Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. gossip, rumour.

[1850		(con. 1843) Melville White-Jacket (1990) 287: There is no part of a frigate where you will see more going and coming of strangers, and overhear more greetings and gossipings of acquaintances, than in the immediate vicinity of the scuttle-butt, just forward of the main hatchway, on the gun-deck].
1901		Smoking Lamp June 55/2: (title of miscellany column) Scuttle butt [OED].
1938		Motor Boating (US) Jan. 108: Is there is any basis at all to the scuttlebutt gossip buzzing around the winter gathering places of the yachting clans [etc].
1939		‘Some Annapolis Sl.’ AS XIV:1 Feb. 77/1: scuttlebutt. (1) Drinking fountain. (2) Rumor of doubtful origin.
1941		Time 14 July 32: A great joke to cadets a few weeks ago was the scuttlebutt (rumour) that the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts [...] had stocked the station with a large supply of caskets.
1953		L. Uris Battle Cry (1964) 68: Scuttlebutt has us going from Truk to Tokyo.
1965		L. Bruce How to Talk Dirty 23: It was just scuttlebutt that a wave was seen promenading [...] during the midnight watch.
1973		D. Ponicsan Cinderella Liberty 127: The scuttlebutt on the ward [...] is sure to cause someone in NAVPERS to wonder just who that sailor was.
1981		H. Gould Fort Apache, The Bronx 132: The scuttlebutt around headquarters was that he played in a doubles group with the Commissioner once a month.
1990		(con. early 1950s) J. Ellroy L.A. Confidential 247: Scuttlebutt had Exley and Inez a hot item.
2000		S. Maloney Big Ask 33: A snooty brunette in her late twenties with serious legs and a fiercely businesslike bearing. And a penchant for older men if the salacious scuttlebutt was to be believed.
2006		P. Carey Theft 257: So it was just scuttlebutt and hearsay.
2012		(con. 1943) G.S. Manson Irish Fandango [ebook] ‘Have you any solid mail or is it all scuttlebutt?’.
2013		S. Sweeney Redeemed [ebook] That’s the scuttlebutt on the streets.
2021		J. Ellroy Widespread Panic 207: I should [...] tell you the latest scuttlebutt from the shoot.
2023		A. Nette Orphan Road 39: There’s been a lot of scuttlebutt and rumours.

2. a gossip.

1963

G. Lambert Inside Daisy Clover (1966) 124: ‘Scuttlebutts aren’t supposed to ask questions,’ I said. ‘Scuttlebutts have all the answers.’.