Scutten

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. To move quickly and furtively, often in a hurried or secretive manner; to run with short, rapid steps; to scurry away while avoiding notice
2. To dart or scamper with a sense of urgency or stealth, typically with small, rapid movements; to flee hurriedly and inconspicuously; to move about in a restless or nervous way
3. To proceed with swift, short strides often implying avoidance or escape; to run or scuttle rapidly and quietly; to move around briskly as if to conceal one’s presence or actions

Etymology: Its sense of hurried, furtive movement puts it in the same semantic family as "scuttle" and "scutter," both English verbs for running with quick, short steps. Those verbs are probably related, but the link between them and this noun is uncertain. Some dictionaries may record the word only in dialect or older sources, so its precise history is worth checking against the Oxford English Dictionary before relying on any particular account.