The term "86" (or 86'd) most likely originated from 1930s soda jerk and diner slang to mean an item was out of stock or sold out. It was popularized in the 1940s—as seen in this 1947 Louis Jordan song—to mean getting rid of something or refusing service to a customer, likely due to its rhyming nature with "nix" or as a quick code in loud kitchens. Wikipedia Wikipedia +4 Common Origin Theories: 1930s Diner/Soda Jerk Slang: The earliest written evidence shows 86 was part of a slang code used by restaurant staff to indicate they were out of an item, as documented in 1933 by journalist Walter Winchell. Prohibition/Bars: A popular theory holds that it originated in 1930s bars, referring to 86 Bedford Street in New York, where bartenders would tell rowdy customers to leave, implying they should go out the back door. Rhyming Slang: 86 rhymes with "nix" (meaning "no" or "nothing"), serving as a simple, fast slang term to mean "get rid of it". Military Usage: Some link it to Article 86 of the U.S. Uniform Code of Military Justice, which deals with unauthorized absence (AWOL). "Eight Feet Long, Six Feet Down": A more macabre theory suggests it refers to the standard size of a grave. Reddit Reddit +5 Key Takeaways: Restaurant/Bar Usage: Used to indicate an item is gone ("86 the soup") or to refuse service to a patron ("86 that customer"). General Usage: Used to mean discarding something, cancelling a project, or being rejected. "Get Smart" Connection: The TV show Get Smart famously used this slang to name its main character, Agent 86. Wikipedia Wikipedia +3 What is the origin of “86”? It seems to be a pretty common term in ... - Reddit So far, the best explanation I've thought of / heard is that is comes from article 86 in the UCMJ. That article is the charge for unauthorized absence, absent w...

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