Historical Background – Son of a Gun

While researching … it astounded me to learn that so many of the words & expressions we use today take their origins from life on the sea. For example … “Son of a Gun.” Today this expression signifies affectionate regard for a friend. But during the Age of Sail it meant … either a child born on a ship (under a gun) … or an illegitimate child fathered by a sailor. Keep that last bit in mind when you next call your friend a “Son of a Gun!!!”