malapert

[mal-uh-purt]Archaic.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR malapert ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

unbecomingly bold or saucy.

noun

a malapert person.

Nearby words

Origin of malapert

1375–1425; late Middle English: insolent < Middle French: unskillful. See mal-, pert

Related formsmal·a·pert·ly, adverbmal·a·pert·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for malapert

I will say what I will in mine own house, thou evil, malapert boy!
The Lost Treasure of Trevlyn|Evelyn Everett-Green
"I want you to whip this malapert with your sword-scabbard," roared the old patrician, pale with anger.
Balsamo, The Magician|Alexander Dumas
And this is old Fitzurse's boasted policy, encouraging these malapert knaves to rebel against us!
Ivanhoe|Walter Scott
Another word of that kind, and I'll show you how malapert lads are treated.
The Burgomaster's Wife, Complete|Georg Ebers

Malapert and Lehideux are still well represented in the Paris Directory.
The Romance of Names|Ernest Weekley

British Dictionary definitions for malapert

malapert

adjective

saucy or impudent

noun

a saucy or impudent person

Derived Formsmalapertly, adverbmalapertness, noun

Word Origin for malapert

C15: from Old French: unskilful (see mal-, expert); meaning in English influenced by apert frank, from Latin apertus open

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for malapert

malapert

adj.

"impudent," early 15c., from Old French mal apert, literally "ill-skilled," from mal- "badly" (see mal-) + apert "skillful," variant of espert "experienced, skillful, clever" (from Latin expertus; see expert). Related: Malapertly; malapertness.