No. of Recommendations: 10
James Comey Was Tracked by Secret Service After Post Critical of Trump
Law enforcement tailed the former F.B.I. director in unmarked cars and street clothes and tracked his cellphone the day after he posted an image on social media of seashells arranged to say “86 47.”
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The shells were arranged in the formation “86 47,” combining a slang term meaning to dismiss or remove with the numerical designation of Mr. Trump’s second presidency. NYT
The only definition I knew of for '86' when used this way was to remove or kick someone out. As in to be 86'd from a bar. I had never heard it used as a reference to 'kill' or 'assassinate'.
I'm sure Dope and other 'conservatives' will be outraged by this misuse of government authority to harass a citizen and to repress free speech.
Here's the origin story. So, please, Dopey, quit clutching your pearls.
The term "86" someone, meaning to refuse service, get rid of, or exclude someone, most likely originated in the 1930s in the context of the restaurant and bar industry. While the exact origin is debated, several theories suggest it stemmed from slang used in soda fountains and speakeasies.
Here's a breakdown of the most common theories:
Soda Fountain Slang:
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In the 1930s, "86" may have been used by soda jerks to indicate that an item was sold out.
Speakeasy Exit:
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A theory suggests "86" referred to a back exit at Chumley's, a speakeasy on Bedford Street in New York City, used to discreetly remove unwanted customers.
Prohibition Era Code:
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Another theory links it to a Prohibition-era code used in bars to warn of police raids, requiring patrons to quickly exit.
Military Code:
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A less common theory suggests it might be related to a military code, possibly referencing "AT-6" (a plane model) or a code within the UCMJ for unauthorized absence.
Regardless of the precise origin, "86" evolved from a term for removing an item from service to a term for removing a person, particularly in the context of hospitality.
Perfectly reasonable to use in regard to Trump.
But the RW media turned it into a death threat.
