Eighty-six or 86 is American English slang used to indicate that an item is no longer available, traditionally from a food or drinks establishment, or referring to a person or people who are not welcome on the premises. Its etymology is unknown, but seems to have been coined in the 1920s or 1930s.
The term has been more generally used to mean getting rid of someone or something. In the 1970s, its meaning expanded to refer to murder. [1]
The term eighty-six was initially used in restaurants and bars according to most late twentieth-century American slang dictionaries. [2] It is often used in food and drink services to indicate that an item is no longer available or that a customer should be ejected. [2] Beyond this context, it is generally used with the meaning to 'get rid of' someone or something. [2]
According to the online Merriam-Webster dictionary, it means to "refuse to serve (a customer)", to "get rid of" or "throw out" someone or something. [3]
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, it may be used as a noun or verb. [4] As a noun, "In restaurants and bars, an expression indicating that the supply of an item is exhausted, or that a customer is not to be served; also, a customer to be refused service. Also transferred." [4] As a transitive verb derived from the noun, it means "to eject or debar (a person) from premises; to reject or abandon". [4] The OED gives examples of usage from 1933 to 1981. [4] For example, from The Candidate, in which the media adviser said to Robert Redford, "OK, now, for starters, we got to cut your hair and eighty-six the sideburns". [4]
According to Cassell's Dictionary of Slang, the meaning expanded during the 1970s to also mean "to kill, to murder; to execute judicially". [1] [5] This usage was derived from the slang term used in restaurants. [6] Other slang dictionaries confirm this definition. [7] [8] [6]
There are many theories about the origin of the term but none are certain. It seems to have originated in the 1920s or 1930s.[ citation needed] Possible origins include:
2 [1970s+] (US) to kill, to murder; to execute judicially.
Eighty-six. To murder someone or put an end to something, [...] The expression derives from the restaurant waiter slang term eighty-six, which, among other things, means to "deny an unwelcome customer service" or to "cancel an order" ("Eighty-six the eggs!"), [...]
Eighty-six to kill US, 1991
Eighty-six or 86 is American English slang used to indicate that an item is no longer available, traditionally from a food or drinks establishment, or referring to a person or people who are not welcome on the premises. Its etymology is unknown, but seems to have been coined in the 1920s or 1930s.
The term has been more generally used to mean getting rid of someone or something. In the 1970s, its meaning expanded to refer to murder. [1]
The term eighty-six was initially used in restaurants and bars according to most late twentieth-century American slang dictionaries. [2] It is often used in food and drink services to indicate that an item is no longer available or that a customer should be ejected. [2] Beyond this context, it is generally used with the meaning to 'get rid of' someone or something. [2]
According to the online Merriam-Webster dictionary, it means to "refuse to serve (a customer)", to "get rid of" or "throw out" someone or something. [3]
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, it may be used as a noun or verb. [4] As a noun, "In restaurants and bars, an expression indicating that the supply of an item is exhausted, or that a customer is not to be served; also, a customer to be refused service. Also transferred." [4] As a transitive verb derived from the noun, it means "to eject or debar (a person) from premises; to reject or abandon". [4] The OED gives examples of usage from 1933 to 1981. [4] For example, from The Candidate, in which the media adviser said to Robert Redford, "OK, now, for starters, we got to cut your hair and eighty-six the sideburns". [4]
According to Cassell's Dictionary of Slang, the meaning expanded during the 1970s to also mean "to kill, to murder; to execute judicially". [1] [5] This usage was derived from the slang term used in restaurants. [6] Other slang dictionaries confirm this definition. [7] [8] [6]
There are many theories about the origin of the term but none are certain. It seems to have originated in the 1920s or 1930s.[ citation needed] Possible origins include:
2 [1970s+] (US) to kill, to murder; to execute judicially.
Eighty-six. To murder someone or put an end to something, [...] The expression derives from the restaurant waiter slang term eighty-six, which, among other things, means to "deny an unwelcome customer service" or to "cancel an order" ("Eighty-six the eggs!"), [...]
Eighty-six to kill US, 1991