shipshape
English · Thesaurus
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shipshape
- /ˈʃɪpʃeɪp/ UK
- /ˈʃɪpˌʃeɪp/ US
Where it comes from
From ship + shapen (“shaped; wrought with a definite shape”), later shortened to shape. The word is of nautical origin, based on the obligation of a sailor to keep his or her quarters arranged neatly and securely due to the limited space typically allotted to service members aboard ship, and against turbulence at sea.
adjective more shipshape · most shipshape · ship-shape
-
Meticulously neat and tidy.
SHIP-shape, in a seaman-like manner; as "That mast is not rigged ship-shape;" "Put her about ship-shape," &c.
Similar: shipshape and Bristol fashion, tight, all Sir Garnet, Bristol fashion and shipshape, in order, neat, neat and tidy, neat as a new pin, neat as a pin, nice as ninepence, orderly, prest · Opposite: chaotic, cluttered, disorderly, messy, ree-raw, riotous, sluttish, tempestuous, tumultuary, tumultuous, turbulent, untidy
adverb more shipshape · most shipshape · ship-shape
-
Neatly and tidily to a meticulous extent.
No—sir—if I sink, I sink; but d——e, I'll go down ship-shape and with dignity.
Similar: handsomely
Translations
Talk about this word "shipshape." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/shipshape. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. shipshape. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/shipshape "shipshape." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/shipshape.Cite this
@misc{shipshape_2026,
title = {shipshape},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/shipshape},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
