six-four
UK[ˈsɪks ˈfɔː]US[ˈsɪks ˈfɔːr]
n
A term for the police, derived from the radio code "10-64" (meaning "situation normal") used by the Los Angeles Police Department and popularized in hip-hop culture.
n
A basketball play where a player scores a basket after receiving a pass and taking exactly two steps (a layup or dunk), often associated with a specific count or rhythm.
Etymology
The term "six-four" is a modern English compound, directly built from the cardinal numbers "six" and "four," whose origins trace back to Proto-Germanic. Its primary slang meaning originates from the mid-20th century LAPD ten-code radio communication system, where "10-64" meant "situation normal," later shortened to "64" and then "six-four" as a metonym for the police. The basketball sense leverages the rhythmic counting inherent in the game's footwork, where "six" and "four" may evoke a specific two-step sequence. Thus, a straightforward numerical combination evolved into abstract jargon within distinct subcultures, reflecting how specialized communities repurpose simple linguistic elements.
Analysis
This is a compound numeral formed from the English cardinal numbers "six" and "four." As a fixed cultural or slang term, it functions as an unsegmentable simplex unit.
Examples
The rapper's lyrics warned that the six-four was patrolling the neighborhood.
He finished the fast break with a classic six-four, taking two powerful steps to the rim.
In old police radio chatter, you might hear "10-64" which eventually got slangified to just "six-four."