c.1135, possibly from O.Dan.
døja or O.N.
deyja "to die, pass away," both 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 preferred words were
steorfan (see
starve),
sweltan (see
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 Du. 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 1581.
Die-hard is 1844 as a noun, specifically of the 57th Regiment of Foot in the British Army; 1877 as an adj.