Jul

4

Word Of The Week: July 4th, 2009

Posted by Christopher Waldrop

July 4, 2009 |

Given the significance of this day in U.S. history, it seemed fitting to pick a specifically American word: barbecue. Or is it really American? The Merriam-Webster Dictionary gives the following definitions:

1a: a large animal (as a steer) roasted whole or split over an open fire or a fire in a pit
1b: barbecued food <eat barbecue>
2: a social gathering especially in the open air at which barbecued food is eaten
3: an often portable fireplace over which meat and fish are roasted

That pretty well fits with the definitions I know. It adds that the etymology is, “American Spanish barbacoa framework for supporting meat over a fire, probably from Taino”. That seems pretty scant, though. I didn’t want to turn to the Oxford English Dictionary, but I’m going to anyway. First, it offers up several more definitions:

1. A rude wooden framework, used in America for sleeping on, and for supporting above a fire meat that is to be smoked or dried.*
2. An iron frame for broiling very large joints.
3. A hog, ox, or other animal broiled or roasted whole
4. a. A large social entertainment, usually in the open air, at which animals are roasted whole, and other provisions liberally supplied.
b. A structure for cooking food over an open fire of wood or charcoal, usu. out of doors, and freq. as part of a party or other social entertainment.
5. An open floor on which coffee-beans, etc. may be spread out to dry.**

The verb form also has two specific definitions:

1. To dry or cure (flesh, etc.) by exposure upon a barbecue; see the n. (senses 1 and 5).
2. To broil or roast (an animal) whole; e.g. to split a hog to the backbone, fill the belly with wine and stuffing, and cook it on a huge gridiron, basting with wine***. Sometimes, to cook (a joint) with the same accessories.

It also gives a much more detailed etymological history, tracing it back to barbacòa, a Haitian Spanish word that possibly comes from a language of natives of Guyana. A French spelling of a Guyanan native word is babracot, which, like the Spanish word, means “a framework of sticks set upon posts”. The OED adds, “The alleged Fr. barbe à queue ‘beard to tail,’ is an absurd conjecture suggested merely by the sound of the word.”

Even though I resisted going to the Oxford English Dictionary, I’m glad I did. Perhaps on this day, more than any other, when most U.S. citizens are celebrating the independence of our country, we should acknowledge the contributions made to the English language. It’s not the only language, but, like our country itself it’s been enriched by the contributions of the rest of the world.

*I don’t recall anyone ever saying they slept on a barbecue. Honestly it sounds pretty uncomfortable.

**Again I’ve never run across anyone who said, “I’m going to put these coffee beans out on the barbecue.” Then again I’m not overly familiar with coffee-bean processing.

***Where does barbecue get basted with wine? Must be a Kansas City thing.


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