Ferke - Wiktionary, the free dictionary
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
- Firke (Kölsch)
Cognate with Dutch varken. This is generally regarded an original diminutive, in which case we expect Central Franconian *Ferche. However, if the word had been contracted early on, the cluster -rk- would have remained unshifted. Compare German Ferkel, whose -k- has been considered secondary and irregular, but might be due to the same reason. Alternatively, the Ripuarian form could be an unshifted relict (compare söke, etc.).
Ferke n (plural Ferke, diminutive Ferkelche)