Obs. Forms: 1 byrʓels, byriels, birʓels, 2, 5 berieles, 3–4 biriȝeles, -ieles, -iles, 3–5 buryels, -iels, -ieles, -ielles, 5 beryels. [OE. byrʓels str. masc., cogn. w. OSax. burgisli neut., f. burg- ablaut-stem of bergan BERGH to protect + suffix -isli-; cf. OE. græfels quarry, fætels purse, etc. See also BURY v. and BURIAL.]
1. A burying-place; a sepulcher, tomb.
854. Chart. Æthelwulf of Wessex, in Cod. Dipl., V. 107. Of ðære holan pannan up on Icenhilde weʓ on ðæne hæðenan byriels.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gen. xxiii. 9. Ðæt he him sealde … þæt twyfælde scræf … to birʓelse.
c. 1175. Cott. Hom., 229. Deade men he arerde of hare berieles to life.
1297. R. Glouc., 204. Þo vond he … An buryels al nywe ymad.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. XXII. 146. Prophetes hem tolde That þat blessed body of buriels sholde aryse.
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour, 12. In alle mennis sight her berieles began to smoke.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 151/2. Upon the buryels grewe a right fayr flourdelis.
2. An interment, funeral.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 2474. So woren forð .x. wukes gon, ȝet adde Iacob biriȝeles non.
