'barbecue' originates from the Spanish word 'barbacoa', which was derived from the Taino word 'barabicu', meaning 'sacred fire pit'.

'barbacoa' transformed into the English word 'barbecue', and eventually led to the creation of the noun 'barbecuer'.

Initially, 'barbecue' referred to a method of cooking meat over an open flame, and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.