eighty-six
UK[ˌeɪti ˈsɪks]US[ˌeɪti ˈsɪks]
v
to refuse to serve a customer, typically because they are drunk or disorderly
v
to discard, eject, or get rid of something
v
to cancel or stop an order for something
Etymology
the term "eighty-six" originated in american restaurant and bar slang in the early 20th century. its exact origin is uncertain, but one popular theory suggests it derives from bartenders' code, possibly rhyming slang for "nix," or from the standard practice of item numbering on menus, where 86 might have been a code for an item being out of stock. the logic of the term evolved from this specific commercial context of being "out of" an item to the more general meanings of rejecting a person or discarding something. its journey from a numeric code to a versatile slang verb exemplifies how professional jargon can enter broader colloquial use.
Analysis
the word is a compound numeral "eighty-six" used as a slang verb. its components are not analyzed as separate morphemes in this idiomatic context.
Examples
the bartender decided to eighty-six the patron after he started causing a disturbance.
we had to eighty-six the old marketing plan and start from scratch.
the chef said to eighty-six the salmon special for the rest of the night.