béqueter

A spelling variant of becqueter with the same meaning (a bird pecking at food) but a different conjugation pattern — it shifts the accent (é → è) rather than doubling the t: je béquète, nous béquetons.

• Le canari béquète les graines dans sa cage. — The canary pecks at the seeds in its cage.
• Les poules béquetaient le sol à la recherche de vers. — The hens were pecking at the ground looking for worms.
• L'oisillon béquète la becquée que lui donne sa mère. — The chick pecks at the food its mother gives it.

Don't mix the two spelling systems mid-conjugation — béqueter takes é/è alternation (je béquète), while becqueter doubles the t instead (je becquette); pick one and stay consistent.

Often confused with becqueter.