Английский Этимологический словарь - die (v.)

- c.1200, possibly from O.Dan. dшja, from O.N. deyja "to die, pass away," from P.Gmc. *dawjanan, from PIE base *dheu- "to pass away, become senseless." 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 prefered words were steorfan (see starve), sweltan (see swelter), wesan dead, also forрgan 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 Du. euphemism translates as "to give the pipe to Maarten." Die-hard is 1844 as a noun, 1877 as an adj.