-rel or -erel (also formerly -ral, -ril),
a diminutive and depreciatory suffix, in some cases representing OF. -erel (mod.F. -ereau) or -erelle, but in the majority of instances attached to native stems, or occurring in words of obscure origin: see the etym. notes to cockerel, dotterel, hoggerel, mackerel, pickerel; doggerel; gomerel, haverel, stammerel; bedrel, custrel, gamphrel, gangrel, mongrel, scoundrel, wastrel; costrel, kestrel.