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.
Quotation dates: 1513-1590
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Irksum, a. Also: -sume. [ME. (north. and north midl.) irkesoum, irksum (1435), affected with weariness, weary, e.m.E. irk-, yrksome (a 1530) also = wearisome.] Wearisome, tedious, tiresome; troublesome, burdensome. 1513 Doug. iii. ii. 157.
Us to leir Quhat end ontil our irksum panys he sendis 1513 Ib. vii. Prol. 17.
I dyd tak kepe Latonya, the lang irksum nyght 1533 Boece iii. v. 97.
Be … mos, slike & sward irksum to ane armye ȝoure regiouns aboundis 1567 Reg. Privy C. I. 540.
Be lang, irksum, and tedious travell, we ar … weryit a1578 Pitsc. I. 127/13.
Money wthers nobillis … quhose nameis ar irksum to wryt 1590 Burel Pilgr. i. xxii.
Sick singing and springing Is irksum to the eir
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"Irksum adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/irksum>
