adj. (American colloquial).—Troublesome; plaguy: also, as adv. = excessively.
1843–4. HALIBURTON (‘Sam Slick’), The Attaché, viii. He might have known how to feel for other folks, and not funkify them so PESKILY. Ibid., xxviii. I’m PESKILY sorry about that mare.
1869. H. B. STOWE, Oldtown Folks, vi. I got caught in those PESKY blackberry-bushes.
1882. W. H. GIBSON, Highways and Byways, 89. I’m fishin’ for pickerel, ’n’ I vaow they’re PESKY scarse.
