shipshape

Meanings

Adjective

• Meticulously neat and tidy.

Adverb

• Neatly and tidily to a meticulous extent.

Origin

• From ship + shapen, 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.