"Geoff Miller" wrote in message
...


For years I've noticed that yachts for sale which are
in very good shape are often described as being in
"Bristol" condition. Why "Bristol?"

Does the English city of Bristol have some significance
in yachting with implications of a vessel's being in
first-class condition? If so, what's the story behind
that?



Geoff,

First off allow me to apologize for all the uninformed guesses as to the
origin of the term "Bristol fashion."

It's got nothing to do with anything so far suggested. Believe it or not it
has to do with woman's breasts.

http://www.peevish.co.uk/slang/b.htm scroll down to "bristols"

Ship shape and bristol fashion refers to a ship at anchor or docked that is
all stowed away and battened down as it should be like breasts in a properly
tied corset.

http://i2.iofferphoto.com/img/115000...12444281/1.jpg

Note the similarity to many classic figureheads.

Wilbur Hubbard

On Sat, 27 Dec 2008 15:11:05 -0500, WaIIy wrote:

Your posts are full of baba, but kind of fun to read.

Good grief, don't encourage him.

Has anyone actually laid eyes on WH's pitiful craft?
No breasts, no corsets and sure as hell not "Bristol Fashion".
How funny that he aimlessly wanders the docks seeking anything
to either dream about or, in desparation, criticize.
Sad, so sad.............NOT!!!

On Sat, 27 Dec 2008 15:41:23 -0800 (PST), pirate
wrote:

Has anyone actually laid eyes on WH's pitiful craft?
No breasts, no corsets and sure as hell not "Bristol Fashion".
How funny that he aimlessly wanders the docks seeking anything
to either dream about or, in desparation, criticize.
Sad, so sad.............NOT!!!


Nauseating defines it better...
Cheers,

Bruce
(bruceinbangkokatgmaildotcom)

On Sat, 27 Dec 2008 15:11:05 -0500, WaIIy wrote:

On Sat, 27 Dec 2008 14:33:40 -0500, "Wilbur Hubbard"
wrote:


"Geoff Miller" wrote in message
...


For years I've noticed that yachts for sale which are
in very good shape are often described as being in
"Bristol" condition. Why "Bristol?"

Does the English city of Bristol have some significance
in yachting with implications of a vessel's being in
first-class condition? If so, what's the story behind
that?



Geoff,

First off allow me to apologize for all the uninformed guesses as to the
origin of the term "Bristol fashion."

It's got nothing to do with anything so far suggested. Believe it or not it
has to do with woman's breasts.

http://www.peevish.co.uk/slang/b.htm scroll down to "bristols"

Your posts are full of baba, but kind of fun to read.


Ship shape and bristol fashion refers to a ship at anchor or docked that is
all stowed away and battened down as it should be like breasts in a properly
tied corset.

http://i2.iofferphoto.com/img/115000...12444281/1.jpg

Note the similarity to many classic figureheads.

Wilbur Hubbard


Wiley Boy Hubbard, the Sage at Anchor....
Cheers,

Bruce
(bruceinbangkokatgmaildotcom)

In article ,
WaIIy wrote:

On Sat, 27 Dec 2008 14:33:40 -0500, "Wilbur Hubbard"
wrote:


First off allow me to apologize for all the uninformed guesses as to the
origin of the term "Bristol fashion."

It's got nothing to do with anything so far suggested. Believe it or not it
has to do with woman's breasts.

'Bristols' are rhyming slang for, well, guess - as the full term is
'Bristol Cities'

So nothing to do with ships at all.

And rhyming slang wasn't common usage in 1840.

So 'Bristol-Fashion' as quoted earlier is anyones best guess.

HTH

--
Molesworth - who wouldn't have seen Hubbards' post if it hadn't been
quoted by someone else.

On Sun, 28 Dec 2008 11:32:49 -0600, Nigel Molesworth
wrote:

In article ,
WaIIy wrote:

On Sat, 27 Dec 2008 14:33:40 -0500, "Wilbur Hubbard"
wrote:


First off allow me to apologize for all the uninformed guesses as to the
origin of the term "Bristol fashion."

It's got nothing to do with anything so far suggested. Believe it or not it
has to do with woman's breasts.

'Bristols' are rhyming slang for, well, guess - as the full term is
'Bristol Cities'

So nothing to do with ships at all.

And rhyming slang wasn't common usage in 1840.

So 'Bristol-Fashion' as quoted earlier is anyones best guess.

I'm guessing it's a corruption of "bristle."
See Tamworth Pig, Bristle-thighed Curlew, and the Trinity Bristle
Snail and the obvious connections can be made.
Being polite, I won't make them.

--Vic