Link Centre Dictionary

shipshape

ships·hape

UK/ˈʃɪpʃeɪp/ US/ˈʃɪpˌʃeɪp/ rare

adjective

1.

of places; characterized by order and neatness; free from disorder

  • “even the barn was shipshape”
  • “a trim little sailboat”
Synonyms
Similar

Origin

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.

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.