Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

†MALVERSE, v., n. Also malvers, maleverse.

I. v. To act in a dishonest or corrupt manner, to comminmit a breach of confidence; to make a wrong decision. Hence vbl.n. malversing, a breach of trust, an act of duplicity. Obs. in Eng.Sc. 1714 W. Forbes Jnl. Session Pref. 8:
The advocates are subject to the authority of the Lords, who . . . may censure, fine, or debar them from their imployment for disobedience or malversing in their office.Sc. 1728 R. Wodrow Corresp. (1843) III. 345:
Why may not this Assembly find out that the last malversed, and alter what they had done?Sc. 1741 Kames Decisions (1799) 36:
In most cases, it is impracticable to bring a regular proof of malversing.

II. n. A breach of trust, an act of duplicity, grave misconduct (Cld. 1825 Jam.). Attrib. = dishonest, criminal.Edb. 1703 D. Robertson S. Leith Rec. (1925) 9:
He thought the Session had chosen him for a year and could not have put him out without a Malverse.Ags. 1727 Arbroath T.C. Rec. MS. (8 Nov.):
Fyned in the sum of ffifty pound for some Malverse Done by him.Edb. 1791 J. Learmont Poems 51:
We wiss him speed Till he unravel ilka quirk, An' mal verse deed.