Derivational suffix in nouns: (a) In a few diminutives: kirn-el kernel, grain, from korn [OE cyrn-el: corn]; hī̆pel little heap, from hēp heap [OE hȳpel: hēap]; (b) in nouns denoting agents, instruments, or objects, formed to go with verbs: bidel herald, beadle, cp. bẹ̄den announce, command [OE byd-el: bēod-an]; fōrerīd-el precursor, cp. rīden fōre ride ahead; gird-el girdle, cp. girden [OE gyrd-el: gyrd-an]; trē̆d-el treadle, step, cp. trēden [OE tred-el: tred-an]; lā̆del ladle, cp. lāden to load; (c) replacing earlier -els, as in rē̆del(s [OE rǣd-els] riddle, biriel(s [OE byrg-els] grave, burial. [The final -s was taken as the plural ending.]