barbecue

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   An outdoor meal or party where food is cooked over a fire or grill.

   We're having a barbecue on Saturday, and you're invited.

2. 2
   noun

   A piece of equipment for cooking food outdoors over hot coals.

   He lit the barbecue and put the sausages on.

3. 3
   verb

   To cook food outdoors on a grill.

   We barbecued steaks and burgers in the backyard.

From mid-17th century. Borrowed from Spanish barbacoa, 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 balbacua and barbacoa.

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