Something about taking prostitutes on voyages across the sea in the olden days. You’d romance her under the cannons and the bastard child would be a “son of a gun”. I don’t remember where I learned this so feel free to correct me if I’m wrong.
The phrase potentially has its origin in a Royal Navy direction that pregnant women aboard smaller naval vessels give birth in the space between the broadside guns, in order to keep the gangways and crew decks clear. Admiral William Henry Smyth wrote in his 1867 book, The Sailor’s Word-Book: “Son of a gun, an epithet conveying contempt in a slight degree, and originally applied to boys born afloat, when women were permitted to accompany their husbands to sea; one admiral declared he literally was thus cradled, under the breast of a gun-carriage.”
Something about taking prostitutes on voyages across the sea in the olden days. You’d romance her under the cannons and the bastard child would be a “son of a gun”. I don’t remember where I learned this so feel free to correct me if I’m wrong.
If you’re wrong then I don’t wanna be right.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Son_of_a_gun
Checks out. Very interesting.
Since its naval, Jimmy Buffett comes to mind.
Son of a son of a gun.
I always thought “gun” was a replacement for “bitch” and was a way of saying it without saying it.
Minced oath
I long to fornicate with many a sea bound trollop, under the blazing fire of a worthy vessels’ cannons