'barbecue' originates from Spanish, specifically the word 'barbacoa', which itself comes from an Arawakan (Taíno) term referring to a framework of sticks for sleeping or for cooking food.

'barbacoa' was borrowed into Spanish and then appeared in English in the 17th century as 'barbecue' (with variant spellings such as 'barbeque'), eventually becoming the modern English word 'barbecue' with senses including both the framework and the social event/way of cooking.

Initially, it referred to a wooden framework or structure; over time it shifted to mean both the method of cooking food over fire and the social event where such food is prepared and eaten.