English

Alternative forms

• spic and span
• spick and span

Adjective

spick-and-span ‎(comparative more spick-and-span, superlative most spick-and-span)

1. (idiomatic) Clean, spotless; original sense “like new”.

   I mopped up the kitchen floor so it was spick-and-span.

Synonyms

• See also Wikisaurus:clean

Quotations

• 1614, Ben Jonson, Bartholomew Fair, Act 3 Scene 5 Lines 42-44:

  NIGHTINGALE (showing one of his ballads) Sir this is a spell against 'em, spick and span new, and 'tis made, as 'twere, in mine own person, and I sing it in mine own defense.

• 1643 John Taylor, A preter-pluperfect, spick and span new nocturnall, or Mercuries weekly night-newes, Wherein the publique Faith is published, and the Banquet of Oxford Mice described (title)
• 1665, Samuel Pepys, diary, 15 November 1665:

  My Lady Batten walking through the dirty lane with new spicke and span white shoes.

See also

• spick

Translations

References

1. ↑ “spick-and-span” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary (2001).
2. ↑ The term "spickspelder nieuwe deuntjes" was used to refer to "brand-new tunes" in a Dutch songbook published in 1630

• article on the origins of the expression spick and span at World Wide Words