Where did the phrase "Fire in the hole" originate?

Answer 1

I believe it was first used by miners that were about to set off dynamite charges. To alert any persons that may still be in the diggings, they would yell "fire in the hole" to warn miners to get out of the mine quickly.

Answer 2

"Fire in the hole" originated in the old wooden sailing ships where cannons were fired from holes in the side of the ship. Since these cannons had a tremendous recoil when fired it became customary for the Gunners Mate to yell "Fire in the Hole" after he lit the fuse to give other sailors time to get out of the way of the recoil. It is sort similar to loggers/foresters in the old days yelling "timber" as tree was about to be felled or a golfer yelling "fore". It was a warning.

As late as 1973 the Navy Gunners Mates still yelled "Fire in the Hole" on board the Battleships New Jersey/Missouri. It was more tradition than warning which done electronically.

There is some controversy about whether the original words in the old days were "Fire in the Hole" or "Fire in the Hold". A "Hold" was any space below decks and it would make sense to warn every one in the "hold". My personal opinion is it originate "Fire in the Hold" and morphed into "Fire in the Hole".

Answer 3

It may have been from when they used to light the string, fuse, or charge of a stick of dynamite and throw the stick into a hole. Blasts like these were used to clear land and make ponds on a farm. It could also date back to the use of a burning fuse to start a controlled explosion in a mine shaft. After drilling holes in the rock and inserting the dynamite or other explosive, the fuse was lit. When the burning part of the fuse (the fire) entered the drill hole, the explosion was iminent, hence the warning shout of "Fire in the hole!"

Answer 4

'fire in the hole'(2001) goes back to wooden war ships. When cannons were fired they recoiled on ropes fixed through pulleys. If a gun recoiled it could kill anyone standing behind it, in the crowded gun deck. The phrase fire in the hole was called when a stick with a fuse attached was put to the powder in the breech. This took 2/3 seconds to ignite and the shout was a warning that the gun was about to fire, and therefore recoil.

Answer 5

We yelled fire in the hole in the Army when we were about to flush because it would cause the showers to suddenly pour out scolding hot water. I doubt we originated it but we certainly kept the saying alive.

Answer 6

Dumping a satchel charge into a spider hole in 'Nam. based on the idea of doing the same to an out of control oil well fire.

Answer 7

Most probable a term dating to pirate ships that would have to open the flaps to the cannons on the sides of ships, that would come close and when rival pirates came in range assuming there was little to no crew the call would come and then the vessel would be laid waste to.

Answer 8

in old times people would dig holes and to see if they exploded. I f they did explode it meant that there was a poisonous gas in there. Then it turned to meaning throwing a grenade in a fox hole.

Answer 9

In a world without Preparation H

Answer 10

A volcanoe