barbeque
UK[ˈbɑːbɪkjuː]US[ˈbɑːrbɪkjuː]
n
A meal or gathering at which food is cooked outdoors over an open fire or on a special appliance.
n
The method of cooking food slowly over low heat, often with smoke from wood or charcoal.
v
To cook food using the barbeque method.
Etymology
The word 'barbeque' originates from the Taíno word 'barbacoa', which referred to a framework of sticks set upon posts used for sleeping or for drying and smoking meat. Spanish explorers adopted this term in the 17th century to describe the indigenous method of slow-cooking meat over a wooden platform. The term entered English in the late 17th century, initially referring to the wooden framework itself before its meaning evolved to focus specifically on the social event and cooking method. This journey from a specific indigenous tool to a globally recognized culinary and social practice illustrates the profound cultural exchange following European contact with the Americas.
Analysis
The word 'barbeque' is a loanword from Spanish, which itself borrowed it from a term used by the indigenous Taíno people of the Caribbean. It is not productively segmented into smaller, meaningful morphemes within English.
Examples
We're having a barbeque in the backyard this Saturday.
The ribs were barbequed for over eight hours, giving them a delicious smoky flavor.
The smell of a neighborhood barbeque filled the summer air.