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Comment on How is "son of a gun" an insult?

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.

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SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Son_of_a_gun

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.”

Checks out. Very interesting.

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itsathursday@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
I always thought “gun” was a replacement for “bitch” and was a way of saying it without saying it.

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- bamfic@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  Minced oath
  
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solidgrue@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
If you’re wrong then I don’t wanna be right.

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NegativeLookBehind@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
I long to fornicate with many a sea bound trollop, under the blazing fire of a worthy vessels’ cannons

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