'bacon' originates from Old French 'bacon', ultimately from a Germanic source (compare Old High German 'bacho'/'bāh') where the root referred to the 'back' or 'back meat' of an animal.

'bacon' changed from Old French 'bacon' into Middle English as 'bacoun' and eventually became the modern English word 'bacon'.

Initially, it meant 'the meat from the back (of a pig)', but over time it broadened to mean cured or smoked pork generally and to refer to slices or strips prepared for eating.