1550s, "one who extinguishes" in any sense, agent noun from extinguish. As a mechanical device for putting out fires, from 1887.
Entries linking to extinguisher
extinguish v.
"to put out, quench, stifle," 1540s, from Latin extinguere/exstinguere "quench, put out (what is burning); wipe out, obliterate," from ex "out" (see ex-) + stinguere "quench," apparently an evolved sense from PIE *steig- "to prick, stick, pierce" (see stick (v.)). But see distinguish (v.). Related: Extinguished; extinguishing.