What is so awful about "scuttlebutt"? In the old days, when ships were wooden, real sailors were pressed, etc., etc., every ship had a water container available to the sailors -- a water butt -- bigger than a puncheon but smaller than a tun. So sailors would share gossip (probably about how misguided their management was) -- scuttle -- around the water butt, hence "scuttlebutt".
Where's the "awful"?
eta: Exactly what we today refer to as "water cooler chatter/gossip"
Where's the "awful"?
eta: Exactly what we today refer to as "water cooler chatter/gossip"