The sea-mans dictionary, or, An exposition and demonstration of all the parts and things belonging to a shippe together with an explanation of all the termes and phrases used in the practique of navigation / composed by Henry Manwaring ...

A Scuttle.

Is a square hole (so much as conveniently a man may goe downe at) cut through any Hatch or any part of the Deck to goe downe by, into any roome, most commonly they are in these places, one close before the Maine-mast, at the Maine-Hilliards before the Knight, in the fore-castell; in the hatch-way, for the Stewards roome; one in the Gun-roome, to goe downe into the sterne sheates; one in the Missen cabbin, to goe downe into the Captaines cabbin, if they be put from the fight aloft, and so in any place where they delight to goe through one Deck, downe into an other: also for vent for the Ord∣nance, there are small scuttles with grateings; they have all covers

fitted for them, least men in the night should fall into them: Also all the little windowes and holes which are cut-out aloft in the Captaines, or Masters cabbins, are called Scuttles.