Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Malverse, v. Also: male-. [F. malverser (1559). Appar. only Sc.] intr. To betray the trust attaching to an office, by acting dishonestly, corruptly or oppressively. a1633 Hope Major Pract. II. 6.
Officers that have maleversed in the ministration of their office 1664 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. I. 603.
The … councill, considering how grosly he [the town clerk] had malversed in his office 1665 Glasg. B. Rec. III. 57. 1670 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. III. 151. 1671 Lauder Jrnl. 217.
His Majesty … to whom they [the Lords of Session] are answerable if they malverse 1675 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. IV. 454. 1676 M. P. Brown Suppl. Decis. III. 57.
But if that the tutor … turn somewhat suspect as being poor or malversing 1680-6 Lauder Observes 101.
If princes malverse, the peeple may depose them 1692 Kirkcudbright Sheriff Ct. Deeds II. 444 (15 June). 1694 Fountainhall Decis. I. 612.
A skipper … being pursued by some merchants … for contraveening his charter party and malversing in his trust