eighty-six (86) not an antedating

[Sam Clements]

...but early use to mean something other than being out of an item on a restaurant menu.

Proquest,_Washington Post_  5 April, 1942. Pg. TC1, col. 5

>>"Curious."  Chandos pulled the note toward him and glanced through it. 
     "T.K. will be 86.'  Is it code?"
     "No.  IT's soda-popper jargon."
     "Meaning?"
     "Tell him,Chick."
     "Eighty-six means out," I said.  "'The tuna-fish salad is 86' means there isn't any more.  And if you say a guy is 86, that means he's fired or all washed up or something like that."  <<

Sam Clements