But wheal n.² is current: “2. In modern medical use, a flat, usually circular, hard elevation of the skin, esp. that characteristic of urticaria.” Its etymology is listed as “Misspelt form of weal n.² Compare wheal v.²” This does all seem connected to a welt, but the OED has no definition of that word that matches my own use of it.

Understanding the Context

Huh!? OED has wheal n.3 Etymology: < Cornish huel. local. A mine.

Key Insights

1830 Eng. & For. Mining Gloss. Wheal is an Anglicisation of the Cornish word. It's interesting that Wiktionary's earliest citation appears to predate OED: 1829, Thomas Moore, The History of Devonshire, page 528, The four last-mentioned mines, Wheal Crowndale, Wheal Crebor, East Liscombe, and Wheal Tamar, are on the same lode, which ...

Final Thoughts