Does "Protestant" Mean "One Who Protests"?

Fred Sanders:

"Protest" might be the nearest cognate of "Protestant" in modern English, but it's silly to take that as a clue to the word's origin—sort of like finding "dance" in the word "concordance" and deciding they're related; or "sacrilege" means putting religion in a sac; or that "validate" is from valid + date = "at the right time;" or "excruciate" means to take off of a cross, etc. But I digress.

The word seems to come from pro + testari, to testify forth, or to hold forth a position on something. Its primary historical meaning has been to assert, to maintain, to proclaim solemnly or state formally.

You can read the whole thing here.

HT: Joe Carter