Old English bacan "to bake," from Proto-Germanic *bakan "to bake" (cognates: Old Norse baka, Middle Dutch backen, Old High German bahhan, German backen), from PIE *bheg- (source also of Greek phogein "to roast"), extended form of root *bhe- "to warm" (see bath). Related: Baked (Middle English had baken); baking. Baked beans attested by 1803.

"social gathering at which baked food is served," 1846, American English, from bake, v..