How many layers of obfuscation on the average euphemism?

[Larry Sheldon]

On 3/13/2012 6:15 PM, Baker, John wrote:

> The origin of "fire," in this sense, is unknown.  Might it have come
> from the older term, "discharge," as a pun?  "Discharge," I believe,
> derives from dis-charge (an employee who is dismissed has his charge
> withdrawn), but one can also speak of discharging or firing a gun.
> The logic and timing make sense, though I don't know of any evidence
> for this theory.

First one I've ever heard and matches well with the connotation I
remember from my youth, the sense of "go away and don't come back" with
need for explanation.

--
Requiescas in pace o email           Two identifying characteristics
                                         of System Administrators:
Ex turpi causa non oritur actio      Infallibility, and the ability to
                                         learn from their mistakes.
ICBM Data:  http://g.co/maps/e5gmy        (Adapted from Stephen Pinker)

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org