Word
bristol
Phoneticsbris·tol
/ˈbɹɪstəɫ/
Definitions
01city in England
n. a large city and port in the southwest of England.
n. a city, ceremonial county, and unitary authority in South West England, historically significant as a major port.
“We spent the weekend exploring the historic docks in Bristol.”
“Bristol has transformed from a traditional maritime hub into a vibrant centre for the creative and aerospace industries.”
02thick paper
n. a type of strong, smooth, thick paper used for drawing or printing.
n. a heavy-weight, high-quality paperboard with a smooth finish, commonly used for technical drawings and business cards.
“The artist chose a sheet of white Bristol for her ink drawing.”
“The specifications required the brochures to be printed on three-ply Bristol to ensure durability during transit.”
Technical
Synonyms
03breasts
n. a slang word for a woman's breasts.
n. a slang term for breasts, derived from Cockney rhyming slang 'Bristol City'.
“He made a rude joke about her Bristols and she walked away.”
“The tabloid was criticised for its frequent use of dated slang like 'Bristols' when referring to female celebrities.”
British English · Slang · Informal
Usage
Usually used in the plural form 'Bristols'.
Teaching tip
This is Cockney rhyming slang (Bristol City = titty); it is informal and can be considered vulgar or objectifying.
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English Brigstow, from Old English Bryċġstōw (literally “the place by the bridge”), from bryċġ + -stōw, with additional final /l/ due to hypercorrection from l-vocalizing accents. See bridge and stow for more. The tiddlywinks sense is associated with players from Bristol University.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.