son of a gun
Preserved but no longer current.
A familiar term for a man. Sometimes applied eulogistically, never contemptuously. Generally said of an artful person, and perhaps, originally, son of a "gun," (or "gonnof"). In the army it is sometimes applied to an artilleryman.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “son of a gun” mean?
A familiar term for a man. Sometimes applied eulogistically, never contemptuously. Generally said of an artful person, and perhaps, originally, son of a "gun," (or "gonnof"). In the army it is sometimes applied to an artilleryman.
Is “son of a gun” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.