Past tense of 'fire,' meaning to discharge a weapon, dismiss from employment, or ignite something. In employment contexts, it refers to involuntary termination, often for cause.
From Old English 'fyr' meaning the element fire, extended metaphorically to mean 'discharge rapidly' (as in firearms) and later 'dismiss rapidly' (from employment). The employment sense emerged in the early 20th century American English, possibly from the image of firing a cannon.
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