die

{{11}}die (n.) early 14c. (as a plural, late 14c. as a singular), from O.Fr. de "die, dice," of uncertain origin. Common Romanic (Cf. Sp., Port., It. dado, Prov. dat, Catalan dau), perhaps from L. datum "given," pp. of dare (see DATE (Cf. date) (1)), which, in addition to "give," had a secondary sense of "to play" (as a chess piece); or else from "what is given" (by chance or Fortune). Sense of "stamping block or tool" first recorded 1690s.

{{12}}die (v.) mid-12c., possibly from O.Dan. dèja or O.N. deyja "to die, pass away," both from P.Gmc. *dawjanan (Cf. O.Fris. deja "to kill," O.S. doian, O.H.G. touwen, Goth. diwans "mortal"), from PIE root *dheu- (3) "to pass away, become senseless" (Cf. O.Ir. dith "end, death," O.C.S. daviti, Rus. davit' "to choke, suffer"). It has been speculated that O.E. had *diegan, from the same source, but it is not in any of the surviving texts and the preferred words were steorfan (see STARVE (Cf. starve)), sweltan (see SWELTER (Cf. swelter)), wesan dead, also forðgan and other euphemisms. Languages usually don't borrow words from abroad for central life experiences, but "die" words are an exception, since they are often hidden or changed euphemistically out of superstitious dread. A Dutch euphemism translates as "to give the pipe to Maarten." Regularly spelled dege through 15c., and still pronounced "dee" by some in Lancashire and Scotland. Used figuratively (of sounds, etc.) from 1580s. Related: Died; dies.