Cognate withDutchvarken. 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. CompareGermanFerkel, 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 (comparesöke, etc.).
Ferke n (pluralFerke,diminutiveFerkelche)