("Morgans" wrote)
Besides that, they sit on their butts, most of the time that they are not
training or maintaining equipment.


Which is why I was astonished to hear that one of the firetrucks "didn't
work" at OSH this year - when it was needed.

Anyone have an update to this scuttle"butt"?


Paul-Mont
(From the web)
Scuttlebutt in nautical terminology is a water fountain or water cask on a
ship. It is now more commonly used as slang for "information" or "gossip".

"Water for immediate consumption on a sailing ship was conventionally stored
in a scuttled butt: a butt (cask or small barrel) which had been scuttled by
making a hole in it so the water could be withdrawn. Since sailors exchanged
gossip when they gathered at the scuttlebutt for a drink of water,
scuttlebutt became U.S. Navy slang for gossip or rumors."