bete
1 of 2adjective
ˈbāt 
in certain card games
: subject to a penalty for failure to fulfill one's contract
also : down, beaten
bete
2 of 2noun
ˈbāt
plural -s
: failure by the bidder (as in auction pinochle) to fulfill his or her contract
also : the penalty for such failure
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
probably from French bête, literally, blockhead, beast (in faire la bête to pass in a card game), from Old French beste beast