The slang term "86" meaning "to remove," "discard," or "get rid of" has murky origins, but it’s widely agreed to come from American diner or restaurant culture in the early 20th century. Here’s a breakdown of the most plausible theories and how it evolved:
### Leading Theory: Restaurant Code
- **Source**: In the 1930s, soda jerks and waitstaff at places like Chumley’s, a New York speakeasy at 86 Bedford Street, reportedly used "86" as shorthand for "we’re out of it" when an item was unavailable. Customers might be told, "It’s 86’d," meaning it was off the menu or they were refused service.
- **Why 86?**: One story ties it to the speakeasy’s backdoor exit at 86 Bedford—troublemakers were "86’d" out the door. Another suggests it’s arbitrary diner lingo, like "86 the soup" for "scratch it from the order."
- **Evidence**: This is backed by old restaurant slang dictionaries and oral histories from the era, though no single document pins it down.
### Alternative Theory: Rhyming Slang
- **Source**: Some linguists point to 1920s-30s American rhyming slang, where "86" might’ve been a playful stand-in for "nix" (to cancel or reject). "Eighty-six" rhymes loosely with "nix," and numbers were common in slang codes then (e.g., "23 skidoo").
- **Plausibility**: It’s less concrete but fits the creative wordplay of the time.
### Military Connection
- **Source**: Another theory links "86" to military jargon. In World War I or II, Form 86 might’ve been used to discharge soldiers or scrap equipment, though no specific form matches this exactly. A related idea is that it’s from naval shorthand for depth charges set to 86 fathoms (about 516 feet), meaning "destroyed."
- **Weakness**: Evidence is thin—military records don’t strongly support a Form 86, and the fathom idea feels like a stretch.
### Practical Evolution
By the mid-20th century, "86" spread beyond diners to bartenders (e.g., cutting off drunk patrons) and then into general use—think "86 that idea" or "86 him from the list." It’s versatile: remove from service, cancel, or eject. The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms traces its print use to the 1940s, solidifying its place in English.
### Why It Stuck
The number itself—86—feels punchy and random, which helps slang catch on. Unlike "delete" or "remove," it’s got a gritty, insider vibe, perfect for quick communication in chaotic settings like kitchens or bars.
So, while its exact birth is fuzzy, "86" as "remove" most likely grew from 1930s diner lingo, flavored by speakeasy vibes, and rolled into broader culture. It’s less about a single "why" and more about how people latched onto it. Cool, right?
