'barmbrack' originates from Irish Gaelic, specifically the word 'bairín breac', where 'bairín' meant 'little loaf' and 'breac' meant 'speckled'.

'bairín breac' was adopted into Hiberno-English as 'barm brack' or 'barmbrack' and eventually became the modern English word 'barmbrack'.

Initially, it meant 'speckled loaf' (referring to the loaf's appearance from the fruit), but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a sweet Irish fruit bread, often associated with Halloween'.