The number 187 commonly refers to murder in slang, originating from California Penal Code Section 187. Context and uses
- Legal origin: California Penal Code Section 187 defines murder as the unlawful killing of a human being with malice aforethought. In legal documents, individuals are often charged as “PC 187” or simply “187” to denote murder charges. This is the formal basis for the slang usage.
- Slang usage: The term 187 has widely been adopted in U.S. street slang and hip-hop culture to mean murder or homicide. The association has been noted in various media and linguistic discussions, and the number is sometimes used in gang-related contexts or as shorthand in lyrics and titles.
- Cultural references: The term appears in film, music, and other media, often referenced in titles or dialogue to signal themes of violence or crime connected to murder, and its recognition extends into international contexts as an adopted slang term in some regions.
Notable points
- When encountered in legal contexts, 187 typically indicates a murder charge under California law (or shorthand for murder generally in the U.S.). Documentation explains the exact statutory language and how charges are written (e.g., PC 187(a)).
- In popular culture, “187” is frequently used as a nod to murder or as a dramatic device, derived from its legal origin but widely used beyond strictly legal discussions.
If you’d like, I can tailor the explanation to a specific context (legal, historical, or cultural) or provide examples of how the term appears in songs, films, or news references.
