from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
malapert \mal"a*pert\ (m[a^]l"[.a]*p[~e]rt), a. [OF. malapert
unskillful, ill-taught, ill-bred; mal ill + apert open,
adroit, intelligent, L. apertus, p. p. of aperire to open.
See {Malice}, and {Aperient}.]
Bold; forward; impudent; saucy; pert. --Shak. -- n. A
malapert person.
[1913 Webster]
Are you growing malapert! Will you force me to make use
of my authority ? --Dryden.
[1913 Webster] -- {Mal"a*pert`ly}, adv. -- {mal"a*pert`ness},
n.
[1913 Webster]