The word "pirkle" is a rare and somewhat obscure term that refers to a small, thin, pointed piece of wood or metal used for piercing or puncturing. It is pronounced /ˈpɜːkl/, with the "e" vowel sound being pronounced as "er." The spelling of "pirkle" is somewhat unusual, as the "i" is typically used before the "e" when the sound is pronounced as "ee." However, this word follows the pattern of other words such as "circle" and "miracle," in which the "i" vowel sound is pronounced as "er."