The term “Shipshape and Bristol Fashion” originated in the 19th century in reference to ships going in and out of Bristol Harbor in Bristol, England, an important port city several miles inland on the estuary of the River Avon. At that time, Bristol Harbor had the second highest tidal range in the world, fluctuating more than 30 feet between low and high tide.
At receding tide, ships would run aground, falling to one side because of their keels. If everything was not stowed away or properly secured, chaos ensued and cargo spoiled. To sustain this inevitable stranding, ships had to be of sturdy construction, and the goods they carried securely stowed. Accordingly, those able to withstand the challenge were dubbed “Shipshape and Bristol Fashion.”
