Bristol fashion

American  

adjective

1. in good order; trim.

   shipshape and Bristol fashion.

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Bristol fashion British  

adverb

1. nautical clean and neat, with newly painted and scrubbed surfaces, brass polished, etc

2. in good order; efficiently arranged

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Etymology

Origin of Bristol fashion

1830–40; after Bristol, England

Example Sentences

“Well, looks like everything’s mostly shipshape and Bristol fashion, luvvy,” said Miss Forcible.

From "Coraline" by Neil Gaiman

We slept Bristol fashion, with one eye open.

From The Mayor of Troy by Quiller-Couch, Arthur Thomas, Sir

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.

From Two Years Before the Mast by Dana, Richard Henry

It is often the custom of men-of-war's-men, when they deem anything to be going on wrong aboard ship to refer to last cruise when of course everything was done ship-shape and Bristol fashion.

From White Jacket or, the World on a Man-of-War by Melville, Herman

When we lay over her, all shipshape an' Bristol fashion, then we'll look about for that there Pirate Shark.

From The Pirate Shark by Arting, Fred J.