'barca' originates from Late Latin, specifically the word 'barca', probably borrowed from a Celtic (Gaulish) source where a form meant 'boat' or 'small vessel'.

'barca' changed from Late Latin 'barca' into Romance languages (for example Old Spanish/Old Italian 'barca') and was later adopted into English in the form 'barca' (plural 'barcas') as a borrowing referring to small boats.

Initially it meant 'small boat' or 'boat used for local transport', and over time it has largely retained that meaning in the descendant Romance languages and in English borrowings.