'barcone' originates from Italian, specifically from the base word 'barca' plus the augmentative suffix '-one' (meaning 'big').

'barca' comes from Late Latin 'barca' (meaning 'boat'), itself of uncertain origin (possibly from a Celtic or other substrate source). The addition of the Italian augmentative suffix '-one' produced 'barcone' to indicate a larger boat.

Initially derived simply to indicate a 'larger boat' (the augmentative of 'barca'), its usage has remained similar; in modern contexts it can carry the additional nuance of an overcrowded or improvised large vessel in news reports.