A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Irk, v. Also: irke, yrk(e. [ME. (orig. and chiefly north. and north midl.) irk(e, yrk(e (c 1330), earlier (east midl.) for-(h)irken (c 1250), also e.m.E.; of uncertain origin: cf. Irk,adj.]
1. intr. To grow weary or tired; to become bored or irritated; to feel burdened or troubled. Variously const.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii. 871.
Thane gude men mad … For S. George fare sepulture … , or thai wald irke Ib. xli. 381.
[The Pope] bad hyme that he suld nocht irke, Bot sped hyme hame til his kirk 1456 Hay I. 61/30.
The bataill of Pompee began to sched and till irk, and toke the flicht 1513 Doug. ii. xi. 98.
I wait neuer quhydder … scho errit, or irkit by the way a1585 Arbuthnot Maitl. Q. xli. 80.
Oftymes man I lauche suppose I yrke Quhen bitterlie thair tauntingis thay haue tauld 1567 Sat. P. v. 23.
Thocht ȝour curage was gude … , Ȝe had ȝit irkit at the lenth 1585 James VI Ess. 39.
Albeit this subiect seame a barren ground … Irk not for that(2) 1456 Hay II. 28/7.
Be cause that the ordre is founded apon lautee [etc.] … many of thame … irkis tharof in the warld that now is c1460 Wisd. Sol. 456.
Than irkyt I of my lyf in this warld a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 429.
Because that Scotland of thy begging irkis c1500-c1512 Dunb. xc. 69.
Small merit is of synnes to irke Quhen thow art ald 1513 Doug. xii. Prol. 302.
For the dynnyng of hir wanton cry I irkyt of my bed 1531 Bell. Boece I. 69.
He counsalit him … to irk of na chargis pertening to weirly ordinance 1562-3 Winȝet II. 29/12.
Thir men being hard, the Galathianis almaist irkit of the veritie 1571 Bann. Memor. 183.
Sua long as onie esperance rested … we never irked for ony paines a1605 Montg. Flyt. 434.
Let neuer this vndought of ill doing irk(3) a1400 Leg. S. xviii. 430.
Thine eris … mone irke To here the syne that I cane vyrk Ib. xxxiii. 329.
That he suld nocht irke Til honoure God 1513 Doug. Conscience 26.
To poysoun justis thow dois never irk 1533 Boece iii. xvii. 116.
Thaara … irking to lif eftir tinsell of his tendir freyndis 15.. Clar. iii. 1377.
He never irkit of him to speir a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xv. 83.
God send the commounis will to wirk … and not to irk To win gud quheit and beir 1611 Lett. Eccl. Affairs I. 270.
I sall never irk to bestow this body … in your maiesties service(4) a1400 Leg. S. xxxiv. 26.
Sa costly aray Scho had, that I suld irk to say 1535 Stewart 41246.
Thair werkis all heirfor to put in write My pen wald irk 15.. Clar. v. 1799.
The coursis come with sik fusioun That I wald irk for to report them heire
b. impers. It irkis (me), = it wearies or troubles (me).1513 Doug. iv. vi. 108.
It sal nevir me irk … The worthy Dido to hald in fresch memory
2. tr. To weary, tire, wear out, exhaust. a. Of things. b. Of persons.a. c1460 Wisd. Sol. 843.
Our mekle thocht … to our-seke bukis, irkis manis wyte 1513 Doug. xi. vii. 27.
Na bargane may thame irk nor tyreb. 1513 Doug. vii. iii. 38.
Ilkane bissy his party forto irk Ib. v. 35.
My fors … Lyis dolf and irkit be ȝon cative wightis 1531 Bell. Boece i. 138.
Galdus … set him erar to irk the Romanis be lang tary Id. Livy II. 22/32.
Nor ȝit will I irk ȝow to here his vane defencis 1535 Stewart 21334.
With countering and carmuische thame to irk 15.. Clar. ii. 1672.
If I sould tell ȝow all the long proces I sould ȝow irk be surfat of exces
3. In p.p., = Wearied, tired. See also Irkit ppl. a.(1) 1492 Myll Spect. 287/2.
Hyre body was irkit and tyrit that scho mycht no mair 1513 Doug. v. vi. 72.
Be this thai wan neir to the rynkis end, Irkyt sum deill befor the mark weil kend c1520-c1535 Nisbet Hebrews xii. 3.
That ye be nocht made irkit [P. wery], failyeing in your saulis 1562-3 Winȝet I. 39/1.
Qvhill we ar aluterlie irkit … we haif kepit silence, almaist aganis our conscience(2) 1456 Hay I. 303/9.
He was sa irkit of wryting 1531 Bell. Boece I. 23.
That be lang tary … his ennimes micht be wery and irkit Id. Livy I. 162/15.
The Tarquinis … war than wery and irkit throw lang … batall 1533 Boece i. vi. 45.
The victouris quhilk wery war and irkit in fecht 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 264.
The saids burgessis … being veryt and irkit of thair trubill preceiding a1605 Montg. Misc. P. lii. 1.
Irkit I am with langsum luvis lair 1620 15th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. ix. 42.
[Some of the Maxwells] being irkit and weyryed with the present peace 1622-6 Bisset I. 49/12.
Thus war his subiectis nethir … irked with exercitioun of guid warkis(3) 1456 Hay II. 93/2.
Na that thai war sa irkit to here of his our lang speche 1513 Doug. xi. xiii. 9.
Camylla … not irkyt in batale stith to stand 1533 Boece iv. xvi. 153.
All the tyme nowthir was I irkit to haue ȝow my weremen 1588 King Cat. 72.
My saule is irked to liue
b. Kept in wearisome longing or waiting.1513 Doug. vi. xiv. 99.
Fabyus, cum neir; Thole me na mar be irkyt ȝou to behald
