Where does “irksome” come from?

Irksome comes from Middle English irkesome, a formation whose ultimate origin and original meaning remain uncertain.

irksome (English): Marked by irritation or annoyance; disagreeable;...

Definitions

  1. Marked by irritation or annoyance; disagreeable;...

Ancestry of “irksome”, step by step

irksome traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Old English weorcsum

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishweorcsumpainful, grievous
2Old Englishweorcwork, in various senses, including
3Proto-West Germanicwerkwork
4Proto-Germanicwerkąwork
5Proto-Indo-Europeanwérǵomwork
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwerǵ-to make

via Middle English irkesome

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishirkesome—

Words derived from “irksome”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European werǵ- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European wérǵom →Every word from Proto-Germanic werką →
irksome — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer