Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “irk” come from?

irk (English) comes from Middle English irken, from Old Norse yrkja, from Proto-Germanic wurkijaną, from Proto-Indo-European werǵ- — to make.

irk (English): to irritate; annoy; bother

Definitions

  1. to irritate; annoy; bother

Ancestry of “irk”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishirkento tire, grow weary
2Old Norseyrkjato work
3Proto-Germanicwurkijanąto work, to do work; to make
4Proto-Indo-Europeanwerǵ-to make

Words derived from “irk”

  • irketh
  • irky
Every word from Proto-Indo-European werǵ- →