Why are probability distributions called «lois» in French?

Question

See, for example «Loi normale,» the French version of “Normal distribution” on Wikipedia.

“The cards are dealt.” «Les cartes sont distribuées.»

I realize that's “the way it is” in all extant academic mathematical literature in the French language, but the idiom of playing cards being laid down on the table as “law” -- in any way, shape, or form or manner of speaking -- is so offensive to me as to completely rule out any polite discourse on the subject.

«Une distribution» is a perfectly valid and decent French word.

«La distribution normale» would be a fine way to describe in French what is called “the normal distribution” in English. The mathematical language of the dealing of a deck of cards ought not to be conflated with that of legislation, civil suits, or crime and punishment under any circumstances.

Answer 1

Notice that "scientific law" has a precise definition, which isn't related to law : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_law

I agree with you that it's surprising to use the term in mathematics/statistics, but it seems to be used in several occasions, such as the "law of large numbers". I think this is acceptable in the sense of scientific law, i.e. which was discovered through experimentation.

And this definition of "scientific law" is a different concept than the "legal law".

Answer 2

There is nothing specific with this usage in French. For example, demand and offer law or law of thermodynamics have no relationship with crime and punishment either.

Merriam-Webster:

6 a: a statement of an order or relation of phenomena that so far as is known is invariable under the given conditions
  // a law of thermodynamics
  // Boyle's law
b: a general relation proved or assumed to hold between mathematical or logical expressions

Same in Spanish:

RAE

2. f. Cada una de las relaciones existentes entre los diversos elementos que intervienen en un fenómeno.