'barcarole' originates from French, specifically the word 'barcarolle', where the form derives from Italian 'barcarola' ultimately related to 'barca' meaning 'boat'.

'barcarole' changed from Italian 'barcarola' (a diminutive/derivative of 'barca') into French 'barcarolle', and was later borrowed into English as 'barcarole' (also sometimes spelled 'barcarolle').

Initially it meant 'a song of boatmen' (the gondolier's song), and over time it also came to mean 'a musical piece that imitates that song'—the original idea of a 'boat song' has largely been retained.