Definition of dyke

The word "dyke" is an old English term used to describe a embankment or artificial bank built alongside a river or waterway to control the flow of water. The etymological origin of the word can be traced back to the Old English word dōc, which means a mound or bank. In the 19th century, the meaning of the word dyke began to change in relation to the identity of same-sex attracted women. Lesbian women living in rural areas near the banks of rivers or waterways would carve out a sense of community and architecture around them, in a similar manner to the construction of the dykes in the landscape. Thus, the term dyke began to be used as a derogatory term in many languages, including English, to describe these women and to disparage their identities and relationships. In contemporary usage, dyke is still sometimes used as a derogatory term, but many lesbian women reclaim and use the term as a word of pride, drawing connections between their identities and the strength and resilience suggested by the original meaning of the term as a protective embankment.