ship-shape
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Proper, in good order; sometimes the phrase is varied to "SHIP-SHAPE and Bristol fashion."—Sea. The latter portion of the expression went out with Bristol’s fame as a seaport.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “ship-shape” mean?
Proper, in good order; sometimes the phrase is varied to "SHIP-SHAPE and Bristol fashion."—Sea. The latter portion of the expression went out with Bristol’s fame as a seaport.
Is “ship-shape” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.