Date: Sat, 29 Apr 1995 10:16:15 -0400
From: "J. Russell King" JRKing[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]AOL.COM
Subject: Re: "You're eighty-six, man!"
May have started in another guise, but at least here in New York City
"eighty six" is bartender's slang for a customer who won't be served anymore,
who has been cut off (because of rude behavior or being too drunk). "He's
been eighty-sixed."
An extended meaning I've also heard is when the kitchen has run out of a
particular item, or the bar is out of a particular wine, that item is "eighty
six" or "eighty sixed" -- used in conversations between waiters and
bartenders, or waiters and the kitchen.
Somebody probably has a notion of the ultimate origin, but I don't.