Origin of Saying

[Grandma_Yiddo]

Where does kick the bucket come from?

[sandyRoe]

When people were to be hanged they were stood on an upturned bucket, or pail, and then it was kicked from under them.

[plautus]

One theory is that it derives from suicide by hanging, when the victim would stand on a bucket to noose himself then kick the bucket away from underneath him.

[Svejk]

Good question, good answers.

[Grandma_Yiddo]

Thank you, another mystery solved.

[Quizmonster]

Click http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-kic1.htm for the answer provided by a noted etymologist and lexicographer...ie an expert in such things. Note his comment that the idea of it having to do with hanging human beings is (quote) "much less credible."

[Svejk]

The 'less credible' answer is much better.

[Quizmonster]

Well, you may very well prefer it, Thet, but it's generally wise to go with the opinion of the 'expert' rather than the opinion of the 'public' in my view.

[Svejk]

It's still betterer.

[Quizmonster]

In what way is it betterER? Have you any evidence that executioners or suicides ever made a habit of using buckets? The former had blocks and the latter would probably have found stools/chairs much more convenient to kick over.
There is, on the other hand, evidence that buckets - ie from the Old French word buquet meaning a beam - were used in the slaughter of animals. Even Shakespeare uses it in that way.
But I'll leave it at that...you go on believing what you believe and I'll go on believing what I believe.

[Svejk]

Dead pigs don't kick.

[Quizmonster]

I said I'd leave it at that earlier, but I simply can't resist responding to your latest strange notion.
When one starts the slaughtering process on an animal, it is by definition still alive! The animal's back legs are trussed and it is raised aloft, giving the slaughterman access to its throat. Clearly, there is a short period of time during which the panicking animal thrashes about in an attempt to escape. That's when it "kicks the bucket," which is - as already explained - a beam.

[Svejk]

'The beam on which a pig is hung AFTER it has been slaughtered.'
Your link.

[Svejk]

How about this for a compromise, QM.
When asked give first answer and then say something along the lines of "not to be confused with the French saying,'volleye
r
le bouque'.
I'm sure you'll agree this would make one look super intelligent & we could be friends forever.

[bibblebub]

Brewers give those 2 possibilities plus a third one:- the bucket is the one formerly put out to collect for the widow of a workmate, and some of those passing by kicked the bucket instead of throwing in a coin.

It doesn't single out any one of the three possibilities as being more credible than the others.

[Quizmonster]

From the opening paragraph of my link...
"It is said that the word was applied in particular to the beam from which a pig was hung IN ORDER TO BE slaughtered." (My capitals)
These are the words of the expert etymologist/lexicographer whose site I linked to. The part YOU refer to is simply an example quote in the OED from some Norfolk person whose knowledge of the history of words/phrases may well have been severely limited.
Having said that - and still opting to go with the expert rather than some gash commentator - I am perfectly happy to swear undying friendship with you!

[Svejk]

Qm, thank-you for taking my 'ribbing' in the spirit it was meant.
I will,of course,always use your origin,whenever it comes up.(Not that its ever likely to)

[dickythecook]

A cow I was milking kicked the bucket, but it was no use crying...

[echokilo]

Dead animals can indeed kick - this is a reaction of the nerves. Just as a chicken will continue to run for a few seconds with a broken neck.

[plautus]

There are many expressions for dying, each with multiple explanations, none of which can be really authenticated.

Two which come to mind are:

"Gone for a Burton"
"Gone West"