What is "to kick the bucket"

Kick \Kick\ (k[i^]k), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Kicked (k[i^]kt); p. pr. & vb. n. Kicking.] [W. cicio, fr. cic foot.]

1. To strike, thrust, or hit violently with the foot; as, a horse kicks a groom; a man kicks a dog.

   He [Frederick the Great] kicked the shins of his judges.
   --Macaulay.

2. To evict or remove from a place or position, usually with out or off; as, they kicked him off the staff; he was kicked out of the restaurant; the landlord kicked them out of the apartment for making too much noise.

3. (Sport) To score (goals or points) by kicking; as, they kicked three field goals in the game.

4. To discontinue; -- usually used of habitual activities; as, to kick a habit; he kicked his drug habit.

   To kick the beam, to fit up and strike the beam; -- said of the lighter arm of a loaded balance; hence, to be found wanting in weight.
   --Milton.

   To kick the bucket, to lose one's life; to die. [Colloq. & Low]

   To kick oneself, to experience strong regret; as, he kicked himself for not investing in the stock market in 199

Bucket \Buck"et\, n. [OE. boket; cf. AS. buc pitcher, or Corn. buket tub.]

1. A vessel for drawing up water from a well, or for catching, holding, or carrying water, sap, or other liquids.

   The old oaken bucket, the iron-bound bucket, The moss-covered bucket, which hung in the well.
   --Wordsworth.

2. A vessel (as a tub or scoop) for hoisting and conveying coal, ore, grain, etc.

3. (Mach.) One of the receptacles on the rim of a water wheel into which the water rushes, causing the wheel to revolve; also, a float of a paddle wheel.

4. The valved piston of a lifting pump.

5. (Mach.) one of vanes on the rotor of a turbine.

6. (Mach.) a bucketfull.

   Fire bucket, a bucket for carrying water to put out fires.

   To kick the bucket, to die. [Low]