Barbecue, also spelled barbeque, is a term that originally referred to the roasting of a whole hog, ox, or other large animal on a crude gridiron of stakes. The stakes were placed over hickory wood fires in an open field. The term barbecue now refers to any meat basted with or served in a barbecue sauce. The meat may be roasted slowly on a revolving spit, on a gridiron, over coals, under a full flame, or in an oven.