'arcabucero' originates from Spanish, specifically from 'arcabuz' + the agentive suffix '-ero', where 'arcabuz' meant 'arquebus' (an early type of firearm) and '-ero' meant 'one associated with or using'.

'arcabuz' in Spanish itself developed from Middle French 'arquebuse' (and related Middle Dutch/Germanic forms such as 'hakenbus'/'harquebus'), and the Spanish agentive form 'arcabucero' arose to denote a person who used or carried an arcabuz.

Initially it referred to the weapon ('arcabuz') and by extension to those who used it; over time 'arcabucero' came to be used primarily for the soldier or arquebusier, often in historical or artistic contexts.