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.).
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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
Words nearby son of a gun
somoza debayle, somy, son, son et lumière, son of a bitch, son of a gun, son of adam, son of god, son of man, son-, son-in-law
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
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
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