Bristol fashion and shipshape

Bri·stol fash·ion and ship·shape
UK/ˌbɹɪstəl ˈfæʃn̩ n̩ ˈʃɪpʃeɪp/US/ˌbɹɪstəl ˈfæʃən n̩ ˈʃɪpˌʃeɪp/

A form of shipshape and Bristol fashion — Of a vessel: tidy, and with its equipment in good order, properly stowed, etc.; shipshape.

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Meanings

adjectiveBristol fashion and shipshape (not comparable)
  1. alternativenot comparableAlternative form of shipshape and Bristol fashion.

    We do it just to look business-like, and Bristol fashion, and shipshape! It pleases the navigator—and the ladies!

    1945, Vaughan Wilkins, “Galleons and Gunpowder”, in After Bath: Or, (If You Prefer) The Remarkable Case of the Flying Hat, London: Jonathan Cape […], →OCLC, page 137
    3 more examples

    […] 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.

    1938, Geoffrey Rawson, “The Boat Voyage (continued)”, in The Strange Case of Mary Bryant, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: E[dward] P[ayson] Dutton & Company, published 1939, →OCLC, part II, page 154

    Why Louisa's father couldn't make up his mind and get down to naming a sum for the dowry, sort matters out Bristol fashion and shipshape, […]

    1988, Joan Aiken, chapter 16, in Deception, London; Glasgow: Grafton Books, →ISBN, page 369

    They were taunting him with his favourite sayings from the old days on parade. […] "All Bristol fashion and ship-shape now?"

    2003, Alison Habens, “Raji”, in Lifestory, London: Allison & Busby, →ISBN, page 69

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
kemptorderlyregularshipshapeshipshape and bristol fashion
Cite this entry
APA

Bristol fashion and shipshape. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Bristol%20fashion%20and%20shipshape

MLA

“Bristol fashion and shipshape.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Bristol%20fashion%20and%20shipshape. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Bristol fashion and shipshape,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Bristol%20fashion%20and%20shipshape.

Source: Bristol fashion and shipshape on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.