son of a gun

Slang.

noun, plural sons of guns.

a rogue; rascal; scoundrel: That son of a gun still owes me $20.

a tiresome or disagreeable matter, chore, etc.

(used as an affectionate greeting, term of address, etc.): Charlie Humpelmeyer, you old son of a gun, how are you?

interjection

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

Origin of son of a gun

1700–10; perhaps orig. the illegitimate offspring of a soldier, though later influenced by British argot gun thief; cf. gun moll

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for son of a gun

son of a gun

noun plural sons of guns

slang, mainly US and Canadian 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