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barbacoa

9.2

A wooden frame used to cook or smoke meat over a fire

noun
/ˌbɑːrbəˈkoʊə/

Archaic

: barbacoa

The villagers built a simple barbacoa of poles to smoke the fish over the fire.

Examples

Archaeologists discovered remnants of an ancient barbacoa at the excavation site.
The barbacoa was made of wood and stone.
In some regions, a traditional barbacoa is still used to prepare large cuts of meat.
They built a barbacoa in their backyard.
The villagers built a simple barbacoa of poles to smoke the fish over the fire.
In some regions, a traditional barbacoa is still used to prepare large cuts of meat.
Archaeologists discovered remnants of an ancient barbacoa at the excavation site.

Synonyms

grill

vsbarbacoa

155 1.4

A frame of metal bars used as a screen or barrier

is a wooden raised cooking or smoking platform rather than a metal grate

barbecue

vsbarbacoa

64 1.0

A metal grill for cooking food over hot charcoal outdoors

is a wooden raised structure used for smoking meat in historical contexts

barbeque

vsbarbacoa

1 1.0

A device for cooking food over hot coals outdoors

is a wooden raised platform used mainly for smoking rather than charcoal grilling

boucan

vsbarbacoa

Archaic

9.9

A wooden frame for smoking meat, often in the Caribbean

is the older raised wooden platform used historically for cooking or smoking meat

Surface Forms

barbacoa singular

barbacoas plural

Etymology

Barbacoa originally named the wooden frame itself: it comes from a Taíno word barbakoa meaning 'a wooden frame' or 'platform' used to cook or smoke meat over a fire. That's why barbacoa can still mean the raised grill or framework used for cooking meat.