'barbouillage' originates from French, specifically from the verb 'barbouiller' plus the suffix '-age', where 'barbouiller' meant 'to smear; to daub'.

'barbouiller' appears in Middle French as 'barbouiller' (same form) and developed into the modern French verb 'barbouiller', with the noun formed as 'barbouillage'. The formation follows a common pattern of verb + -age to form nouns.

Initially it referred to the literal action 'to smear' (for example smearing a beard or face) and its result; over time it also acquired the figurative sense of a careless or ugly painting/scribble now conveyed by 'barbouillage'.