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    Why are spare ribs called that?

    Question #63238. Asked by Smithy2u. (Mar 08 06 12:52 PM)


    robboy

    		It's in the etymology of the term rather than any butcher-speak location on the critter. Unlike short ribs (beef) or country-style ribs (pork), spareribs comes from 'ribbesper', Low German for pickled pork ribs done on a spit. The word has that diacritical macron over the last e.

    Mar 08 06, 9:03 PM
    peasypod

    		The word 'spareribs' is an English alteration
    of the German 'ribbesper' which refers to the idea of pork ribs roasted on a spear.

    There is also the "absence of fat" which, in 1596, the usuage of 'spare' came about in association to pork ribs.

    http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?l=s&p=34

    Mar 08 06, 9:04 PM
    peasypod

    		Just wasn't nimble enough, was I?!

    Mar 08 06, 9:05 PM

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