Kicking the bucket dates back a long way with references dating back to 1785 with this inclusion in Grose’s Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, “To kick the bucket. to die. He kicked the bucket one day; he died one day.” But this doesn’t explain how the term came about.

As is often the case numerous theories exist with varying degrees of plausibility. A favourite theory, with unfortunately no evidence to support it is that the term refers to a hanging. In this scenario the victim stands on a bucket which is then kicked out from under him.

A far more plausible theory is one that suggests an adaptation of language. In this theory bucket probably comes from the Old French buquet, meaning a trébuchet or balance. The more familiar sense of pail is likely from the Old French buket, meaning a tub or pail.

This trebuchet is likened to a yoke or beam, from which it would be quite feasible to hang something. The imagery evoked by the phrase is that of an animal being hung up for slaughter, kicking the beam from which it is suspended in its death throes.

Supporting this theory is our old favourite wordsmith, Shakespeare, who describes this imagery of a slaughtered animal’s death throes in Henry IV, Part 2 thus, “Swifter then hee that gibbets on the Brewers Bucket.”