To remove, end usage, or take
something out or away. Despite ALL other posts suggestion the origion of this phrase there is only one
true answer:
Chumley's, a famous and OLD New
York speakeasy, is located at 86 Bedford St. During Prohibition, an enterance through an interior adjoing courtyard was used, as it provided privacy and discretion for customers.
As was (and is) a New
York tradition, the cops were on the payroll of the
bar and would give a ring to the bar that they were coming for a raid. The bartender would then give the command "86 everybody!", which meant that everyone should hightail it out the 86 Bedford enterance because the cops were coming in through the courtyard door.