malapert (adj.) late 14c., "impudent, shameless, presumptuous," from Old French mal apert "over-ready, impudent," literally "ill-skilled," from mal "badly" (see mal-) + apert "skillful," variant of espert "experienced, skillful, clever" (from Latin expertus; see expert (adj.)). Attested from c. 1300 as the name of the personification of impudence.

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

Origin of malapert 1 C15: from Old French: unskilful (see mal-, expert); meaning in English influenced by apert frank, from Latin apertus open

The prefix mal-, meaning "bad" or "badly" and deriving from the Latin malus, is found in many English words, including malevolent and malefactor. The second half of malapert comes from the Middle English apert, meaning "open" or "frank."