1. Doornails and Their Significance:
* Doornails were historically made of iron and hammered into place. This process would leave them quite solid and immobile, much like a deceased person.
* Doornails were often used in a specific way. They would be hammered through the door to secure it from the outside, a practice known as "nailing" the door. This act would make the door completely sealed and impenetrable, much like the finality of death.
2. Literary References:
* The earliest known written use of the phrase appears in William Shakespeare's "Henry V" (1599), where the character Falstaff says, "He's dead as a doornail, he's gone, he's vanished."
* Some believe that the idiom might have originated in religious folklore or mythology, where doornails were associated with death or burial practices.
3. The Evolution of the Phrase:
* It's possible that the phrase originally used the term "dead as a nail," and over time, "door" was added for emphasis and clarity.
* The association of "dead" with "doornail" may have also been influenced by the fact that iron, the material of doornails, was linked to coldness and death.
Conclusion:
While the exact origin of the idiom remains unclear, it is likely a combination of factors: the physical properties of doornails, their symbolic use, and cultural associations with death. The phrase's long history and enduring popularity in the English language illustrate its effectiveness in conveying the absolute certainty of death.