'barbituric' originates from 'barbituric acid', which was named by combining 'barb-' (possibly from the name Barbara or from 'barbital') and 'uric' (from 'uric acid').

'barbituric' was formed in the late 19th century after the discovery of barbituric acid, and eventually became the modern English word 'barbituric'.

Initially, it referred specifically to the acid itself, but now it is used more broadly to describe anything related to or derived from barbituric acid.