Spick and Span (Origin)

What Is the Origin of the Saying "Spick and Span"?

The term spick and span means brand new. This term has a nautical origin. Spick meant nails (or spike) and span meant wooden shavings. On a new sailing ship, the nails would still be shiny and the wooden shavings from manufacture would still be present. Therefore, a new ship would be all spick and span.



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See Also

A list of common grammar errors A list of easily confused words A list of sayings and proverbs