Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “sparerib” come from?

sparerib (English) comes from Low German ribbesper, from Middle Low German ribbespêr, from Middle Low German ribbe, from Old Saxon ribbi, from Proto-Germanic ribją, from Proto-Indo-European h₁rebʰ- — to cover, to roof; rib.

sparerib (English): A cut of meat including the rib bones

Definitions

  1. A cut of meat including the rib bones

Ancestry of “sparerib”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Low Germanribbesper—
2Middle Low Germanribbespêrspareribs; spare-ribs
3Middle Low Germanribberib, strip
4Old Saxonribbi—
5Proto-Germanicribjąrib; reef, ridge
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁rebʰ-to cover, to roof; rib
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁rebʰ- →