'maladroit' originates from French, specifically the word 'maladroit,' where 'mal-' meant 'badly' and 'adroit' meant 'skillful (skilled, to the right).'

'maladroit' changed from Old French elements: 'mal-' (badly) + 'adroit' (from Old French a droit, 'to the right' meaning skilful). The French 'maladroit' existed in medieval French and the word was borrowed into English in the 18th century as 'maladroit.'

Initially, it meant 'badly skilled' or 'not to the right (not skilful)'; over time it came to mean 'awkward, clumsy, or lacking tact' in modern English.