History of South America

Where did the term scuddlebutt originate?

The term "scuttlebutt" originated in the days of wooden sailing ships, where crews shared news and rumours around a barrel or cask used for drinking water known as the "scuttlebutt". As people gathered around to quench their thirst, they also engaged in informal conversations, exchanging the latest shipboard gossip or news from other vessels they had encountered during their voyage. Over time, "scuttlebutt" became synonymous with this type of casual gathering and the informal information shared, eventually evolving into the more general usage of the term today.