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son of a gun

noun

, plural sons of guns.
  1. a rogue; rascal; scoundrel:

    That son of a gun still owes me $20.

  2. a tiresome or disagreeable matter, chore, etc.
  3. (used as an affectionate greeting, term of address, etc.):

    Charlie Humpelmeyer, you old son of a gun, how are you?



interjection

  1. (used as an exclamation of irritation, surprise, dismay, etc.)

son of a gun

noun

  1. slang.
    a rogue or rascal: used as a jocular form of address
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word History and Origins

Origin of son of a gun1

First recorded in 1700–10; perhaps originally the illegitimate offspring of a soldier, though later influenced by British argot gun “thief”; gun moll none

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