ship-shape

ship-shape (comparative more ship-shape, superlative most ship-shape)

1. Archaic form of shipshape.
   • [1801, J. J. Moore, “SHIP-shape”, in The British Mariner’s Vocabulary, […], London: […] T. Hurst [et al.], OCLC 1097258136:

     SHIP-shape, in a seaman-like manner; as "That mast is not rigged ship-shape;" "Put her about ship-shape," &c.]

   • 1823, [James Fenimore Cooper], chapter V, in The Pioneers, or The Sources of the Susquehanna; a Descriptive Tale. [...] In Two Volumes, volume II, New York, N.Y.: Published by Charles Wiley; J. Seymour, printer, OCLC 1076549695, page 83:

     [I]t would have been more ship-shape to lower the bight of a rope, or a running bow-line, below me, than to seize an old sea-man by his head-lanyard; [...]

ship-shape (comparative more ship-shape, superlative most ship-shape)

1. Archaic form of shipshape.
   • 1840, [James Fenimore Cooper], chapter XV, in The Pathfinder: Or, The Inland Sea. [...] In Two Volumes, volume I, Philadelphia, Pa.: Lea and Blanchard, OCLC 1154843271, page 233:

     No—sir—if I sink, I sink; but d——e, I'll go down ship-shape and with dignity.

   • 1897, Joseph Conrad, chapter II, in The Children of the Sea: A Tale of the Forecastle, New York, N.Y.: Dodd, Mead and Company, OCLC 213747138, page 48:

     Some of you have n't sense enough to put a blanket ship-shape over a sick man. There! Leave it alone! I can die anyhow!