Picture something tall that has been standing steady: a stack of plates, a statue, a tower of blocks. It leans a little, then a little more, and then the whole thing goes over in one piece. The word marks the moment balance is lost and the fall that follows. Because the picture needs height, it fits stacked and standing things — and it fits anyone sitting at the top of something, too.
Wiktionary gives the word as top plus -le, an ending that marks a repeated action. The sense of something at the top wobbling again and again until it goes over sits directly under every modern use.
Wiktionary 記的來源是 top（頂端）加上 -le，這個字尾表示反覆的動作。頂端一直晃、一直晃，最後整個下來，這個想法就墊在它現在所有用法底下。
Wiktionary etymology supplied in the evidence packet (kaikki:3f6f69a190036ae4:836395287): From top + -le (frequentative verb suffix).
Two branches
東西倒下：失去平衡
這一組就是核心畫面本身：高高疊著的東西歪掉、倒下，或是被誰弄倒。
verb · B2
To lean further and further until you lose your balance and fall over, or to push something so that this happens to it. It is used about tall or stacked things — a pile, a statue, a tower, a person standing up — and it often comes with over.
倒下、傾倒；把⋯⋯推倒
把上面的人拉下來：奪權
高度從實體換成位置。坐在最高位子上的人，在這個字的眼中就跟立著的雕像一樣，可以被外力弄倒。
verb · C1
To take power away from a leader or a government, especially suddenly or by force. It is also used about pushing anyone off the top place — a champion, a market leader, a rival — with the same picture of someone high up being brought down.
推翻（政權）；把⋯⋯拉下第一的位子