Etymology From Middle English sonn, sone, sun, sune, from Old English sunu (“son”), from Proto-West Germanic *sunu, from Proto-Germanic *sunuz (“son”), from Proto-Indo-European *suHnús (“son”), from Proto-Indo-European *sewH- (“to bear; give birth”).
Before the birth of the man's child, he said: "I want a son, not a daughter."
From what conſummate vertue I have choſe / This perfect Man, by merit call'd my Son,1671, John Milton, “The First Book”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, page 10, lines 165-166:
2 more examples
“We are pleased that LSST has now been named the Vera C. Rubin Observatory,” said Rubin’s sons Allan Rubin, David Rubin, and Karl Rubin in a statement.2020 January 7, Ashley Strickland, “First US observatory named in honor of a female astronomer, Vera Rubin”, in CNN:
Cristiano Ronaldo’s eldest son has earned his first call-up for the Portugal Under-15 national squad, the team announced on Tuesday.2025 May 7, Ben Morse, “‘Proud of you’: Cristiano Ronaldo’s eldest son earns first call-up for Portugal Under-15 national team”, in CNN:
2
A male adopted person in relation to his adoptive parents.
3
A male person who has such a close relationship with an older or otherwise more authoritative person that he can be regarded as a son of the other person.
Eli called Samuel his son. Be plain, good son, and homely in thy drift.1832, Noah Webster, “SON”, in A Dictionary of the English Language Intended to Exhibit the Origin of Words, the Orthography and Definitions: in Two Volumes · Volume 2:
4
A male person considered to have been significantly shaped by social conflict.
He was a son of the mafia system.
5
A person regarded as the product of some place.
I hold it to be true, that the people are the sons of the soil; and we are only their instruments here.1850, Oliver P. Badger, convention member from Putnam, Indiana, Report of the Debates and Proceedings of the Convention for the Revision of the Constitution of the State of Indiana, 1850 Volume 1, page 827:
6
A familiar address to a male person from an older or otherwise more authoritative person.
Son, can't you see that she's just a little girl?1984, “Working on the Highway”, in Bruce Springsteen (music), Born in the U.S.A.:
Shepard: Stay with me. We're almost through this. Admiral Anderson: You did good, son. You did good. I'm proud of you. Shepard: Thank you, sir. Anderson?2012, BioWare, Mass Effect 3 (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: Citadel:
Computing, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Sciences The current version of a file, derived from the preceding father file.
Three generations of file are usually kept, being the grandfather, father and son files.2004, Ray Bradley, The Ultimate Computing Glossary for Advanced Level, page 31:
After the update, the new file master file is the son. The file from which the father was developed with the transaction files of the appropriate day is the grandfather. The grandfather and son files are stored in different locations.2007, O. Ray Whittington, Patrick R. Delaney, Wiley CPA Exam Review 2008: Auditing and Attestation, page 779:
Etymology From Middle English sonen, sunen, from the noun (see above).
1
To produce (i.e. bear, father, beget) a son.
I sonned a father who would not be sonned, […]1997, Noel Polk, Outside the Southern Myth:
2
To address (someone) as "son".
“Don't 'son' me.” “I'm old enough to be your father,” he said with a dismissive wave of his hand.2005, Jerry Flesher, Tomorrow I'll Miss You:
“Son—now's not the time, please.” “It's the perfect time—it's the best time fucking time I ever had. There's not gonna be another time, so don't son me, you bastard. […]”2014, Stuart A. McKeever, Becoming Joey Fizz:
son
noun
Etymology From Spanish son (literally “tone, sound”).
1
Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music Son cubano, a genre of music and dance blending Spanish and African elements that originated in Cuba during the late 19th century.
When son first emerged in the streets of Havana, in the early twentieth century, it was shut down by the police, as were most forms of African culture. Son groups, conjuntos, caught playing on the street, as was the tradition, had their instruments confiscated.2017, Mark Kurlansky, Havana: A Subtropical Delirium, Bloomsbury, →ISBN: