SHIP SHAPE AND BRISTOL FASHION ORIGIN
Thursday March 17th, 2011
SHIP SHAPE AND BRISTOL FASHION
And important British port for over a thousand years, Bristol is actually located several miles from the sea on the estuary of the River Avon. Bristol’s harbour had amongst the most variable tide flow in the UK with depth differing up to 30feet. This presented a problem with ships becoming beached. If they were not robust and in good condition (or ‘ship shape’) they could easily be damaged at low tide. In 1803 the problem was resolved by the construction of the Floating Harbour. The two phrases Ship Shape and Bristol Fashion are thought to have been merged soon after this and eventually became a standard phrase in the English language meaning in excellent order.
Re the security question, which initially you deemed to have been answered incorrectly when I wrote snot-green, which is a descriptor used by no less an author than James Joyce, the sea is blue only when the sky is blue. I shall pretend accordingly but under protest.