The word barbecue has its origins in the language of the Taíno, a Caribbean indigenous people. The Taíno word “barbacoa” referred to a wooden framework used for roasting or smoking meat over an open fire. Spanish explorers encountered this cooking technique and adopted the term as “barbacoa,” which then spread into other European languages. Over time, “barbecue” evolved in English to describe not only the cooking method but also social gatherings featuring roasted or grilled meat.