barbacoa

The story

1. Taíno · derived frombarbakoa“framework of sticks”
2. Spanish · borrowed frombarbacoa
3. English todaybarbacoa

Borrowed from Spanish barbacoa (whence also barbecue), from Taíno barbakoa (“framework of sticks”), the raised wooden structure the natives used to either sleep on or cure meat. Originally “meal of roasted meat or fish”. Doublet of barbecue and balbacua.

Words from the same roots