'barcarolle' originates from Italian, specifically the word 'barcarola,' where 'barca' meant 'boat.'

'barcarola' passed into French as 'barcarolle' and was adopted into English from French and Italian sources as 'barcarolle.'

Initially, it meant 'a song of boatmen' (a boat song); over time it also came to mean any vocal or instrumental piece that imitates the style and rhythm of such songs.