--- title: "The spectacular naval origin of the phrase, ‘son of a gun’" description: "These days, Americans are less likely to exclaim \"son of a gun\" than the more-explicit \"son of a b*tch\". Learn more on WATM." date: "2022-06-15" modified: "2023-06-15" authors: - name: "Blake Stilwell" job_title: "Editor-In-Chief, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/blake/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-trending/son-of-a-gun-origins/" categories: - "History" - "Navy" --- # The spectacular naval origin of the phrase, ‘son of a gun’ ![son of a gun]() These days, Americans are less likely to exclaim "*son of a gun*" than the more-explicit "*son of a b\*tch,*" but there was a time when "son of a gun" itself was [not used in mixed company]() — and that time was more than 200 years after the age of sail. It seems [the Royal Navy](), while not keen on having women aboard its ships, sometimes overlooked the practice. Different times throughout its history saw sailors of the Royal Navy either bring either their wives or lovers aboard ships that might be out at sea for a while. While it wasn't officially tolerated, there are instances of a ship's company turning a blind eye to it. ![Son of a gun]() *At this point, it's important that everyone knows I'm talking about prostitutes.* Everyone aboard a ship was counted in the ship's log back in those days. The log was a detailed account of who was working, who came aboard, who left, who died, etc. It also kept track of who was born aboard one of the King or Queen's ships. It was uncommon, but it did happen. Women had to get around the world just like anyone else. The Royal Navy kept this count, just like any other ship. But say there was one of the aforementioned female guests aboard a ship. If that woman just happened to give birth aboard ship, that child would have to be kept in the log. If a child was born with uncertain paternity — that is to say, there were too many possibilities as to who the father could be — the newborn still had to be counted in the log. ![Son of a gun maury show]() *Like an old-timey recording of the Maury Show.* If this was the case, the child's name was recorded as the "son of a gun" — the son of a seaman below decks. Eventually, the common use of the phrase began to refer to any child born aboard a ship, even those of officers accompanied by their wives. Then, it began to refer to [any child of a military man](), not just the bastard children of sailors. Some 200-plus years later, it's used to lovingly refer to a mischievous person or as an expression of awe or esteem. To use an expletive or insult in the same vein, we've moved on as a society. Who knows where language will go next? ## Author Blake Stilwell is We Are The Mighty's Editor-in-Chief, covering military news, entertainment, and history, along with veteran education, employment and entrepreneurship. He is a former U.S. Air Force combat cameraman with degrees in Graphic Design, Television and Film, International Relations, Public Relations, Business Management and Middle Eastern Affairs. After leaving the military, he began working in film and television production in New York and Los Angeles, work that included ABC News, NBC Olympics, and HBO Sports. He then spent two years in Washington with White House Communications, before joining the Near East Foundation. At NEF he served as an International Development Fellow, then Communications Officer, and finally, Media Officer for the Middle East and Africa. Based in the Palestinian Territory, he coordinated strategic communications between eight country offices, international media, and government and NGO partners. He began a career focused on writing and editing in 2015 with We Are The Mighty. He left in 2019 for Military.com, but returned as Editor-in-Chief in 2025. Blake’s work has been seen on CBS News, Fox News, CBC, The Chicago Tribune, Task & Purpose, Military Times, Recoil, Skillset, American History, and was shockingly even used in a Supreme Court argument. He is an avid traveler and small business owner in Ohio, where he spends most of his energy fixing up a very old house. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Twitter]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()