86

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. Etymology and meanings The term eighty-six was initially used in restaurants and bars according to most late twentieth-century American slang dictionaries. 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. Beyond this context, it is generally used with the meaning to 'get rid of' someone or something.