Bristol [OE] The city in southwest England, whose name means ‘assembly place by the bridge’, has been a leading port since the 12th century. Its history is the background to the phrase shipshape and Bristol fashion, or ‘in good order, neat and clean’. Something in a pleasing or well-ordered state would be described as Bristol fashion because sailors regarded Bristol as a model of prosperity and success. Its importance as a port for the wine trade has given us sherries such as Bristol Cream. One of the city’s two soccer teams, Bristol City, is the reason that a woman’s breasts are sometimes called bristols. This is rhyming slang, from Bristol City = titty (see tIt).