'barbitos' originates from Ancient Greek, specifically the word 'βάρβιτος' (bárbitos), where the exact root is uncertain but is often treated as imitative/onomatopoeic referring to the sound of a stringed instrument.

'barbitos' passed into Latin as 'barbitus' and Old French as 'barbiton', and eventually entered English as 'barbitos' (with variant 'barbiton').

Initially, it referred directly to the specific type of lyre used in ancient Greece; over time its use in English has become specialized and historical, referring mainly to that ancient instrument.