CHARLIE DEAN'SBLOG

I suppose it goes with being a pastor – immersed in the world of languages (at least 3) and modern translations – I’m kind of an etymology geek.

I found this interesting: the etymology of the verb “to fire,” as in to “remove someone from their job, against their will” has one of two origens:

1. the more likely origen is that it was first used in 1871 and meant “to eject or throw (a person) bodily from a place, to put out by forcible means.
2. but more amusing, if not entirely verifiable by scholarly means, is that the word originated in the early US Navy when sailors were spread-eagled over the end of cannons and “fired,” as a mean of punishment.

So there, the next time you’re “fired,” you can be thankful that you’re not be “spread-eagled” over the end of a cannon.  At least you have that going for you.