Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “irky” come from?

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

irky (English): aggravating; annoying; irritating; aggravated;...

Definitions

  1. aggravating; annoying; irritating; aggravated;...

Ancestry of “irky”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishirkto irritate; annoy; bother
2Middle Englishirkento tire, grow weary
3Old Norseyrkjato work
4Proto-Germanicwurkijanąto work, to do work; to make
5Proto-Indo-Europeanwerǵ-to make
Every word from Proto-Indo-European werǵ- →