In parts of Ireland the landlords local lackey was known as the Beagle, probably to do with the notion of them behaving like a puppy dog in the ladlords presence - or maybe its a local corruption of Beadle. I know a number of people who still use this word as a term of abuse, but they generally pronounce it as if it were spelt bagel.

Beagle (pr. bagel) the way I sing it. I can't be certain at this stage, but I think that's how Paddy Tunney used to sing it as well. I've never noticed anyone singing it as Beadle, but obviously some people do. When I hear people sing it with the standard pronunciation of beagle it doesn't seem quite right.

Somehow I think if the landlords were literally hounding people out of their homes, they'd use a different breed of dog !