'Barbary' originates from Arabic, specifically the word 'al-Barbarīyah', where 'Barbar' referred to the 'Berber' people (the indigenous peoples of North Africa).

'Barbary' changed from the Medieval Latin word 'Barbaria' and Old French 'Barberie', and eventually became the modern English word 'Barbary'.

Initially, it meant 'land of the Berbers', but over time it evolved into its current use referring to 'the North African coast', often with historical connotations of piracy.