86 can be traced back to pre-industrial times. Referred to whiskey that was about the strength of beer. Bartender would 86 you if you’d had enough.
Restaurants use it when an item is no longer available. I think it’s pretty common many places/industries.
“Referred to whiskey that was about the strength of beer. Bartender would 86 you if you’d had enough.”
Floater: (Info from sailors that I knew.)
If one goes overseas to places exotic where there are young ladies who facilitate the purchasing of alcohol and provide converstion in broken english, one might purchase an expensive drink from the establishment for her. You might sip the drink and say to yourself “Wow, thats like pure vodka!” but wonder why after 10 drinks she is still able to giggle and sit on the stool.
In this instance the bartender makes her “beverage” without any booze then “Floats” a bit of alcohol on the top to persuade #1 sailor man he is buying miss Perky an actual drink instead of $200 worth of 100 1 tsp sips from a 750 ml bottle of vodka that only cost $6.