TRIVIAL PURSUITS: Why is losing your job called ‘getting fired?’

From where did the term ‘fired,’ meaning one lost his job, originate?

The most popular explanation for why we say someone was fired from their job goes back to when civilizations were evolving and all had to work and trade so that everyone’s needs were met. If someone wasn’t contributing or was hurting the greater good of the society, others would burn down their house, and when they would see this they would know they were not wanted and move on.

Another explanation is that people adopted the phrase ‘fired out’ to mean someone was expelled from a place, just as a bullet was expelled from a gun. Some historians say this was shortened to ‘fire’ to specifically mean someone was expelled from employment.