In 1 Brycgstów, 3–5 Brigestou, Brycstoue, 4–7 Bristow.
[1. A city of England upon the Wiltshire or Lower Avon, famous since early times for its maritime trade and manufactures, and giving its name to various commercial and natural products.]
2. Short for ‘Bristol-stone’: see 3.
1618. N. Field, Amends Ladies, I. i. To the unskilful owners eyes, alike The Bristol [v.r. Bristow] sparkles as the diamond.
1818. Edin. Even. Cour., 22 Oct. (Jam.). Studded with what was once the vogue, bristow.
3. Attrib., as Bristol-board, a kind of pasteboard with a smooth surface; Bristol-brick, a siliceous material made in the form of a brick, used for cleaning cutlery; Bristol-diamond, -gem, -stone, a kind of transparent rock-crystal found in the Clifton limestone near Bristol, resembling the diamond in brilliancy; also attrib.; Bristol-fashion (Naut.), in good order; Bristol milk (see quots.); Bristol Non-such, a plant, Lychnis Chalcedonica; † Bristol-red, a dye; Bristol-water, the water of warm springs at Clifton near Bristol, used medicinally.
1809. R. Langford, Introd. Trade, 63. 2 Do. Royal *Bristol Bds.
1883. B. J. Lossing, in Harper’s Mag., 861/2. Mr. Evers painted many small portraits (‘miniature’) on ivory and Bristol-board.
1596. Lodge, Wits Miserie, 33. A counterfeit chain … *Bristow diamonds.
1624. Gataker, Transubst., 65. Bastard pearles, Bristow diamonds, and glasse bugles.
1662. S. P., Acc. Latitude Men, in Phenix, II. 517. To distinguish between a true Gem and a Bristol Diamond.
1884. F. Britten, Watch & Clockm., 215. Rock crystal … also known as ‘Bristol’ … diamond, is also used by watch jewellers.
1840. R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, xx. 61. Everything on board ‘ship-shape and *Bristol fashion.’
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Bristol fashion and shipshape. Said when Bristol was in its palmy commercial days … and its shipping was all in proper good order.
1707. E. Ward, Hud. Rediv., II. iii. (N.). The cap … Was set with *Bristol jems.
1644. Prynne & Walker, Fiennes’ Trial, 78. Good store of *Bristoll milk, strong wines and waters.
1662. Fuller, Worthies, Bristol (D.). ‘Bristol Milk:’ this metaphorical Milk, whereby Xeres or Sherry Sack is intended.
1848. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. iii. (D.). A rich beverage made of the best Spanish wine, and celebrated … as Bristol milk.
1668. Wilkins, Real Char., 102. London Tuft, Sweet John, Sweet William; *Bristow Nonsuch.
1551. Will, in Peacock, N.-W. Linc. Gloss. (E. D. S.), s.v., One kyrtyll of *bristowe read whiche were her mothers.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., 78. Diamonds … Chrystall, *Bristoll stones.
1837. Lockhart, Scott (1839), IV. 353. A good-humoured lass … who wore as many diamonds as if they had been Bristol Stones.
1739. Byrom, Remains (1856), II. I. 243. I wish I could drink a glass of *Bristol water in uncle Josiah’s company.
1817. T. J. Pettigrew, Mem. J. C. Lettsom, III. 314. Bristol Water is most proper for the patient’s common drink.
4. attrib. in ordinary sense; also sometimes with reference to ‘Bristol diamonds.’
1651. Cleveland, Poems, 32. You that dim Jewells with your Bristoll-sense.
