What means "barbecue"?

The origin of both the barbecue cooking activity and term are somewhat obscure. The word itself varies in spelling; variations include barbeque, BBQ, and Bar-B-Q.

Most etymologists believe that the word barbeque ultimately derives from the language of the Taino people of the Caribbean "barabicu", which translates as "sacred fire pit". In one form, barabicoa or barbicoa indicates a wooden grill or a mesh of sticks; in another, barabicu, it is a sacred fire pit.

Traditional barbicoa implies digging a hole in the ground putting some meat (goat is the best, usually the whole animal) on it with a pot underneath (to catch the concentrated juices, it makes a hearty broth), cove all with maguey leaves then cover with coal and set on fire. A few hours later it is ready.

In the Southern United States, the word "barbecue" is used predominantly as a noun which specifically refers to roast pork (which is then chopped, pulled, or sliced, depending on region, and served with a tomato, vinegar or mustard-based sauce). A folk etymology states that the term BBQ resulted from when roadhouses and beer joints with pool tables advertised "Bar, Beer, and Cues." According to the tale, this phrase was shortened over time to BBCue, then BBQ.

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