# gunner's daughter

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/gunners-daughter
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

The gun to which sailors were tied to be flogged.

## Examples

- The sailor was punished by being married to the gunner's daughter.
- Discipline on the old ship was harsh, and many men feared the punishment known as the gunner's daughter.
- In the brutal days of the navy, a sailor who broke the rules often found himself tied to the gunner's daughter to receive his lashes.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.