scuttlebutt
n. US //ˈskətəɫˌbət// UK //skˈʌtəlbˌʌt// scut·tle·butt
The noun is derived from scuttle (“to cut a hole through (something)”) + butt (“wooden cask”). Noun sense 2 (“gossip, idle chatter; rumour”) refers to the fact that sailors would gather around the scuttlebutt to drink and exchange gossip; compare furphy and water cooler. The verb is derived from the noun.