An epithet applied to any part of a ship's equipage that lies in reserve, to supply the place of such as may be lost or rendered incapable of service; hence we say, spare tiller, spare top-masts, &c.
·noun Parsimony; frugal use. II. Spare ·vt <<Slow>>. III. Spare ·vt Sparing; frugal; parsimonious;...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
1) slow. Exm. 2) thin in habit of body ; he's a spare man. ...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
An additional anchor the size of a bower. ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
An obvious term. They should be pointed before stowing them away in the sail-room. ...