malapert

malapert · noun, adjective¹

1. Old French · derived frommal apert“ill-skilled”
2. Middle French · derived frommalappert
3. English todaymalapert

From mal- (“not, badly”) + apert (“open, revealed; direct, straightforward; clever, expert”), or from Middle French malappert, Old French mal apert (“ill-skilled”).

Malapert · proper noun²

See malapert.

First known use, by meaning

• from 15th c. A cheeky, impudent, or saucy person.
• from 15th c. Cheeky, impudent, saucy.