Where does the word spare come from in spareribs?!

Question:

Where does the word spare come from in spareribs?

Answers:

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Spare ribs comes from the "floating ribs" or better known as the short ribs.

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Well, if the cow is dead I guess it doesn't need it's ribs anymore so they're spare?

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I have always thought they are called spare ribs because the meat is sparce or scarce on the bones.

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