I am doing research on the colonial iron industry of Virginia.  During this
period charcoal was produced by the controlled burning of a pile of wood.  The
wood was covered with a layer of leaves, dirt, charcoal dust, or some other
material to preclude complete oxidation.  The pile was refereed to by a number
of terms including: pit, hearth, charcoal pit, meiler, and more recently
collier's pit.  I have found historical references to all but the last term.  It
is also not a term used by USGS.  Does anyone know where it originated?

Thanks
JH Brothers IV