son of a bachelor

English

Etymology

Attested from 1657. Likely a minced oath of son of a bitch based on the assonance between bitch and the first syllable of bachelor, and with bachelor being less vulgar but implying bastardy.

Noun

son of a bachelor (plural sons of a bachelor or sons of bachelors)

  1. (euphemistic, uncommon) Son of a bitch.
    • 1657, Thomas Jordan, The walks of Islington and Hogsdon, with the humours of Woodstreet-compter, a comedy.‎, act 4, scene 2:
      You son of a Batchelor, do you throw your Pispots upon my head?
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