• aln@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    13
    ·
    9 days ago

    You sit “shotgun” in the front seat next to the driver. It comes from people going out West on wagons having to sit there to defend themselves with a shotgun.

    If you call “shotgun” you’re calling the front passenger seat for yourself. You’re calling dibs on it.

    • brsrklf@jlai.lu
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      5
      ·
      9 days ago

      In French it’s still commonly referred to as the dead man’s seat.

      It’s from before seatbelts were common, so it was the most dangerous in case of crash, with absolutely nothing to stop you from going through the windshield.