Former FBI director James Comey has been charged by the Justice Department over a photograph he posted on Instagram last year, which some interpreted as a call to assassinate President Donald Trump. The image showed seashells arranged to form the numbers '86 47' on a beach. Comey has stated he did not realize the numbers could be seen as a threat, but the charges mark another instance of the Trump administration targeting political opponents.
What Does '86 47' Mean?
The number 86 is a common slang term meaning to get rid of, eject, or stop something. It is often used in restaurants to indicate an item is no longer available, or in bars to mean removing a patron. In a military context, it can mean aborting a mission. The number 47 is understood by some to refer to Donald Trump, the 47th president of the United States. Together, '86 47' could be interpreted as 'get rid of Trump'.
Merriam-Webster notes that 86 has occasionally been used to mean 'to kill', but states this usage is rare and recent. The dictionary does not endorse that meaning due to its limited use.
Origins of '86'
Several theories explain the origin of '86'. The most common involves Chumley's, a prohibition-era bar at 86 Barrow Street in New York's West Village. The bar had two entrances, and '86' referred to the address of the door where unruly customers were ejected. Another story says police would call ahead before a raid, telling bartenders to '86' customers out the Bedford door.
Other origins include lunch-counter slang for being out of a dish, first recorded in 1933 by newspaper columnist Walter Winchell. A US Navy logistical code AT-6 (phonetically 'eighty-six') designated equipment for disposal. The Oxford English Dictionary traces the first use to a 1944 book about actor John Barrymore, where 'eighty-six' meant 'don't serve him'.
Additionally, Newsweek reported that mafia use of '86' referred to taking someone 'eight miles out of town' and putting them 'six feet under'. Cassell's Dictionary of Slang confirms that 'to 86' can mean 'to kill, to murder', possibly referencing a grave size of 8 feet long and 6 feet deep.
The number 86 has also been used by Republicans calling for impeachment of Joe Biden, with merchandise like T-shirts reading '8646' (impeach Biden, the 46th president). Some liberals accuse the right of deliberately misinterpreting Comey's intent for political gain.
