The origin of the word "scuttlebutt," which is nautical parlance for a rumour, comes from a combination of "scuttle" what make a hole in the ship's hull and thereby causing her to sink and "butt" is a cask or hogshead used in the days of wooden ships to hold drinking water. The cask, from which the ship's crew took their drinking water. Like water fountain was the "scuttlebutt".
Even in today's Navy a drinking fountain is referred to as such. But, since the crew used to congregate around the "scuttlebutt", that is where the rumours about the ship or voyage would begin. Thus, then and now, rumours are talk from the "scuttlebutt" or just "scuttlebutt".
Also, any ship board rumor or gossip. "Taking a long slow drink, the sailor announced to anyone who would listen, 'We're headed for Hong Kong. I heard it from the mess cook.'" Scuttle-butt passes through the ship rapidly, embellished and gaining in creditability as it spreads.
