Reconstruction:Proto-Slavic/-ьlъ

Fossilized doublet of *-lъ, attached to thematic roots. The *-ь- could reflect either a reduced *-e- or *-i- from i-theme declension. Regionally (especially in East Slavic), the -ь- was often hardened to -ъ- due to the backward influence of -l- (cf. Old East Slavic: молоко (moloko) < *melko or Old East Slavic: пълнъ (pŭlnŭ) < *pьlnъ).

*-ьlъ m

1. From adjectives or participles, forms agent nouns (usually animals or plants)

   Synonyms: *-teľь, *-ařь, *-ačь

   *kozьlъ (“goat”) ← *kozь(jь) (“goaty”)

   *pětьlъ (“rooster, cock”) ← *pětъ(jь) (“singing”)

   *sъsьlъ (“ground squirrel”) ← Proto-Balto-Slavic *śuśas (“shoving, ditching”) (possibly)

   *orьlъ (“eagle”) ← Proto-Indo-European *h₃érō (“stirring, rising one”)

   *pelvelъ (“weed”) ← *pelvъ (“pale, futile”)

2. From basic roots or verbs, forms tool nouns. Likely under the influence of Proto-Germanic *-ilaz

   Synonym: *-dlo

   *svьrdьlъ (“chasel”) ← Proto-Indo-European *swerdʰóm (“sharp tool”) < *seh₂w- (“sharp”) +‎ *-ér-

   *kotьlъ (“cauldron”) ← Proto-Indo-European *kat- (“to encircle, to bound”)

   *kъbьlъ (“bucket”) ← Proto-Indo-European *kewb- (“to bend, to turn”)

   *gъdьlъ (“tickle”) ← *gъsti (“to tickle, to prick”)

• *-ъlъ
• *-elъ

• *-ělь
• *-aľь