pesky
Preserved but no longer current.
An intensitive expression, implying annoyance; as, "A PESKY, troublesome fellow." Corruption of PESTILENT; or, Irish, PEASGACH, rough, rugged. PESKY has now become more American than English. Pesky Ike is the name of a popular American drama.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “pesky” mean?
An intensitive expression, implying annoyance; as, "A PESKY, troublesome fellow." Corruption of PESTILENT; or, Irish, PEASGACH, rough, rugged. PESKY has now become more American than English. Pesky Ike is the name of a popular American drama.
Is “pesky” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.