Obs. Forms: 4 bagelle, baghel, 6 bagle. [a. ON. bagall, ad. L. baculum, -us, staff, rod.] The staff or crosier of a bishop.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron., 282. A hard wele telle, þat bagelle & belle be filchid & fled. [in Pol. Songs (1839), 307 The baghel and the belle.]
1542. Recorde, Gr. Artes (1575), 314. Crooking in the little fynger, like the head of a bishops bagle.
1557. Phaër, Æneid., VII. T j. And held in hand his bagle rod (Note—A bagle staf whom prelats that time did use).
