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.