shipshape and bristol fashion
/ˈʃɪpˌʃeɪp n̩ ˌbɹɪstəl ˈfæʃən/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.85 in modern English
45
Scrabble Score
26
Letters
4
Syllables
14
Unique Chars
Meaning
Example Sentences
- "It was there I first got alongside of Moll [a ship]. She is as pretty a girl as ever stepped between the stem and stern of a vessel. And to see her upon a lee-shore! It made me change colour in the face like a dolphin. "My box of diamonds," says I to the girl, "this is neither ship-shape, nor Bristol fashion. It was this fashion that made the people at Constantinople turn Turks. If the master-at-arms that put you in here ever comes athwart my hawse, I'll cut his cable.""
- "L'Atriveda Spanish privateer, which has been in our harbour several weeks, is now completely refitted in all the graces of "ship shape and Bristol fashion," and on the point of sailing for whatever chances the fortune of war may bestow."
- "When we set out on the jolly voyage of life, what a brave fleet there is around us, as stretching our fresh canvas to the breeze, all "shipshape and Bristol fashion," pennons flying, music playing, cheering each other as we pass, we are rather amused than alarmed when some awkward comrade goes right ashore for want of pilotage!"
- "The Alert was agreed on all hands to be a fine ship, […] They said her decks were as white as snow—holystoned every morning, like a man-of-war's; everything on board "shipshape and Bristol fashion;" a fine crew, three mates, a sailmaker and carpenter, and all complete."
- "[…] Bryant ordered the boat to be emptied of everything. Two men were detailed to clean it out and to re-stow all the gear—Bristol-fashion and shipshape."
- "He must be a little dictator. In all well-run businesses there is such a man. In the Secret Service, it is Paymaster Captain Troop, RN Retired, Head of Admin., whose job it is, in his own words, ‘to keep the place shipshape and Bristol fashion’."
Etymology
As regards the adjective, Bristol was the most prosperous port of west-coast Britain, and its shipping was regarded as maintained at a high quality. The adverb is probably derived from the adjective as it is first attested slightly later.
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈʃɪpˌʃeɪp n̩ ˌbɹɪstəl ˈfæʃən/
- British English: /ˈʃɪpʃeɪp n̩ ˌbɹɪstəl ˈfæʃn̩/