Did the word "firkle" originate from mining? I read or heard something recently about old work-related words which were used outside work. I think firkle was one of them. Suggestion may have been Cornish miners who moved north.
The word in Susie Dent's Dictionary Corner in the current edition of "Radio Times" is "tartle". Susie Dent's new book will be published in October.
With apologies to trish58 as I am responsible for taking your thread off topic.No idea Maiden Stone, but I have been using the term since I was little. Regional influences I am aware of that could have been passed down to me from the previous two or three generations are Co.Durham , Northumberland, Shetland, Borders of Scotland and Ireland.
Nothing from the south of England that I am (yet) aware of, though plenty of mines around in Durham and Northumberland so it could have travelled up if any Cornish miners came that far.
Or there again it could have been a word I mis-heard when I was small and kind of adopted it :-)
Boo