Bristol, n. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

Bristol n.

[SE Bristol-board, a type of pasteboard with a smooth surface, popular for printing such cards]

a visiting card.

1909

(ref. to 1830+) in J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era.

Proper name in slang uses

In compounds

Bristol champagne (n.) [the proliferation of port-shippers based in the city]

port.

1811		Lex. Balatronicum.
1823		Egan Grose’s Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.

Bristol hog (n.)

a native of Bristol.

1829

Night Watch I 314 in DSUE (1984).

Bristol man (n.) [such figures would often drift towards Bristol, presumably, as a major port, conducive to villainy]

a villain, a rogue.

1811		Lex. Balatronicum n.p.: bristol man. The son of an Irish thief and a Welch whore.
1823		Egan Grose’s Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.

Bristol milk (n.) [now a trademark of Harvey’s, the Bristol sherry importers]

sherry, esp. rich, sweet sherry.

1644		Prynne & Walker Colonell Fiennes his Tryall 78: Being furnished with good store of Bristoll milk, strong wines and waters.
1662		Fuller Worthies (1840) III 115: bristol milk; this metaphorical milk, whereby xeres or sherry Sack is intended.
1670		J. Ray Proverbs 251: Bristol milk. That is Sherry-sack.
c.1698		B.E. Dict. Canting Crew.
1785, 1788, 1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.
1811		Lex. Balatronicum.
1823		Egan Grose’s Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.
1848		Macaulay Hist. of England I Ch. 3 🌐 A rich beverage made of the best Spanish wine, and celebrated over the whole kingdom as Bristol milk.

Bristol stone (n.) [SE Bristol stone, Bristol diamonds, Bristol gems, a kind of transparent rock-crystal found in the Clifton limestone near Bristol, Avon, resembling the diamond in brilliancy]

sham diamonds.

1687		J. Phillips [trans.] Cervantes Don Quixote 230: [C]husing rather so to dispose of ’em [i.e. a ‘Cascanet of Jewels’], then that they should fall into the Hands of those that would ha’ sold ’em for Bristol-stones, and spent the Money upon Whores and Brandy.
c.1698		B.E. Dict. Canting Crew.
1723		‘Whipping-Tom’ Democritus III 22: The Jeweller will sometimes put off Bristol Stones for Diamonds.