dyke A "dyke" is a female homosexual or a low wall built to prevent floods (this second kind is also spelled "dike"). Some people suspect there's a connection between the two definitions: that women who were not interested in having sex with men might once have been compared, with disgust, to a stone barrier. On the other hand, Boudicca, a Celtic warrior queen in Britain in the first century AD, could have inspired "dyke." Or the 19th century black women who dug ditches in the American south and were known as "bulldikes" (or even the black male laborers of that time called "bull dicks" by white plantation owners). It's all mostly a game of guessing. Lesbians by any name were mentioned very little in print until about 1920, so it's hard to say when the word "dyke" hit spoken English. When it did hit, it meant--and still often means--a particularly "butch" lesbian: with stereotypically "masculine" clothes and appearance. ("Butch" is actually about a lot more than looks; it was a full way of life in the underground lesbian culture of the early to mid-20th century.) In African-American slang of the 1920s, to be "diked up" was to be "dressed up" and came to refer to women dressing butch. In the '60s, activists fighting discrimination against gay people got their first mainstream notice. And after that, the word "dyke" acquired, for some lesbians, a sense of pride. Like lots of names people call each other, the word changes a lot with context. Shouted at someone in school or on the street, it's mean--and is meant to make a girl or woman think she is not being friendly enough to men. As a less-bookish-sounding alternative to "lesbian," it's mostly just descriptive. Used by present-day lesbian activists and media--Dyke TV or Dykes to Watch Out For, for example--it's descriptive, but with a slightly rowdy we're-here, get-used-to-it edge.

Comments

[maryse]

okay listen here peace-lover let me set it straight for you have no cle wer your standing at right now and i kno ur a gay ass 2 you need god in yur lyf wen the tym comes ur gona rememba maryse coments okay GAYS ARE JUST A WASTE OF SPACE

AND YES THEY ARE INSIGNIFICANT FOLLOWING BY ALL THE CRIMANAL,PROSTITUDES,WITHCHES,WICCAS,GANGS,
RACISTS,DRUGIES,ROBBERS,ADULTERS,FORNICATERS, PORN ADDICTS, ect.....
just spreding the word

pourquoi are you people so GAY????

[peace-lover]

the bible is ancient and there really is no proof that it was written by God or Jesus or whatever furthermore there is no proof god himself exists if u can give some proof that he is fine but all proof leads to a scientific beginnings im not sayng all that what u believe in is wrong i mean u can believe in a god or whatever but u really shouldnt talk about gay ppl like they r insignificant everyone is important and besides what would u do if u had a child that were gay u would jusst completely forget about them u really have no idea wat u r saying when u say it

[i love MUSIC]

GROWS SOME DICK YOU DUMBASS DYKES

GAY PPL

NASTY

A DISGRACE TO THE WORLD
ASSHOLES

[read the BIBLE ppl]

I REALIZE I GOT SOMNE MISSSPELLED WORDS BUT YOU ALL GET

GOD IS COMING
AMEN

[read the BIBLE ppl]

and kezia it will give you more headache because chritianity will stay hear until the lord comes which he is going to pick up he's children and all you gays who didn't fix your life will stay with your gay ruler the one who started it all

is true it will happen

i dont care if you think i am crazy

but you all are going to realize it
god is coming

and all this bad stop is gong to end for us christian

halelulla!!!!!

GOD IS COMING

[read the BIBLE ppl]

all you ppl are idiots especially you foolforyou and kezia if you are going to comment read right, the girl clearly wrote that "GOD DOES NOT HATE YOU" but hates that action which is repulsive, abominable and disgusting and sure, god accepts everyone regarding anything and if you knock on his door he will accept you and change you just like if a rich man sees a homeless man he will pick him up clean him and dress him and he will look new. and that is what god does to whoever knoks on his door. soo look for the lord and you will find him

therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. romans 6:12

[truth]

i never said god hates u get it to your head so if u say i did underline it understand wat ur reading b4r u right anything

[Raivyne]

People are called dykes alot at my school, its so stupid.

[FoolForYou]

Also, to Truth:

Im gonna take a risk and guess that you're a Christian, judging from your penultimate comment.

If thats true, then you're not the best are you?
Calling people 'insolent fool'; 'u repulsive minded freek'; 'a big retard' and telling someone to not get mad cos they 'NEVER GRU SOME BALZZ' isnt really very representative of the loving, kindly God your worship is it?
Let your actions and words be another way of witnessing.

But if I totally guessed wrong, and you're not a Christian, then my apologies. =]

But still, regardless, that wasnt very nice.

[FoolForYou]

Also, to Truth:

Im gonna take a risk and guess that you're a Christian, judging from your penultimate comment.

If thats true, then you're not the best are you?
Calling people 'insolent fool'; 'u repulsive minded freek'; 'a big retard' and telling someone to not get mad cos they 'NEVER GRU SOME BALZZ' isnt really very representative of the loving, kindly God your worship is it?
Let your actions and words be another way of witnessing.

But if I totally guessed wrong, and you're not a Christian, then my apologies. =]

But still, regardless, that wasnt very nice.

[FoolForYou]

Why can't we all be nice to each other?

Sure, the Bible condemns homosexuality, but doesn't it also say 'Love your neighbour'? Didn't Jesus teach compassion for everyone - not just the Jews, but the Gentiles? Doesn't God accept everyone, regardless of their nationality, or gender, or views, or age, or sexual orientation?

As Christians, instead of constantly screaming 'God hates you, you're disgusting, go burn in hell' etc etc, shouldn't we, you know, follow Jesus' example and LOVE EVERYONE?
We shouldn't shun, or judge homosexuals, they're people too, and we should see the person, not the sexual orientation.

Geez, practice what you preach.

[truth]

listen you littel kezia wat eva ur name is i can tell your gay 2 u insolent fool get your mind off da devil i can care less u say nd i kno ur tinking da same ting but let me tell u someting u repulsive minded freek if ur gona start 2 wright things at least get the point get ur eyes checked or somtihng cuz I never said god hates you I said he dis likes your actions your a big RETARD GET YOUR GAY AS LIFE FIXED!!!!!!!!AND AM SORRY UR UPSET CUZ U NEVER GRU SOME BALZZ DNT GET MAD AT ME

[Go and screw him Bitch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]

I have a lesbian friend ...but I'd never call her a dyke!

[Kezia]

I'd love to read >one< argument from everyone out there that think we're all 'abominations', etc. that does not, I repeat 'does not', mention religion, the Bible, hell, whatever: it's getting a tad old. Have your beliefs, by all means, but come on, just one, please? Reading the words 'God hates you, so we hate you too.' (and all variations thereof) over and over again gives me a headache...

[Stephanie]

lawl, people writing about us gays sinning makes me smileyfuls. Like we freeking care xD think what you want!! I likes being a dyke!!

[truth]

who ever beth iz u r correct gayness is a true shame umm nd you anti gay person who commented we shoulde not hate them we need 2 pray 4 them not whish there death thats just wrong another person who commented by the name of gigantor there is something takeing over your head all the way and is not a butifull thing nd u pepole dat say the gay comunity is getting bigger that means the apocolyps is coming sooner if you want ur gay ruller so bad u will have him gayness is not okkkkkkkk good night

[beth]

all you gay pepole out there are so disgusting what do you see in the same sex i mean god is coming soon do you whant to stay here with the anti christ rulling over your lives this world will no longer have light it will be darkness turn to god i know you think im crazy well call me a weirdo but i speak the truth god dose not hate you he dislikes your behavior and when the trumpet sounds and you see that your still here you will rember this comment in the name of god i hope u turn to god confess your sins 2 god not 2 a pope he is not god

[lisa]

read the bible and you will understand

[Gigantor]

I'm a lovely lesbo lover all the way, DYKE PRIDE!!

[Nixy]

What is wrong with being lesbian?I am not but I feel so sorry for the ppl who are.They are born like that.Do you think if they had a choice they would choose being Les?Would they live a life where ppl made fun of them instead of having a easy life if they had a choice?No is the answer you looking for so stop punnishing them for something out of their CONTROL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Maggie]

Derogatory words for gay are just stupid. Be gay or bi, or not, but don't hate on people if they are.

[heather]

i have been called this word many times jokingly by my friends cuz i am a lesbian... it depends on how the word is being used if it is gonna upset me, like if one of my friends says " you're such a dyke" treasing me whatever, but if someone is actually using the word in a hurtful mannor then that is just not right

[marissa]

umm i was in this situation when i was over my friends house and we were exploringgg....
first im like WTF! and shes all ''wait until we take the video(:'' im like watever
so shes all ''were not gay, were not a dyke, weres just PLAYING''
sooo i guesssss wee wernt INTERESTED in sex buht i thought she was):

[Trent]

The thing about the Bible though is it was created years and years ago, and many of the stuff that they wrote down was a matter of health, i.e. don't eat shellfish, because back then there was less knowledge on how to prepare shellfish to safely eat it, and as with the men having sex with men and women having sex with other women; because again, many diseases and whatnot can be caught if not practiced safely as in with heterosexual sex. It was more of a health concern, not necessarily saying it was wrong. And even then, if you're going to take that translation that it's a sin and what not, then you should realize that the bible also has examples of incest, slavery, and so on. In addition, it tends to contradict itself, with the whole, put someone to death by stones, yet love they enemy and thou shalt not kill.
In this context of "dyke," it depends on who is using the word and in what context. however I am glad to hear that the gay/lesbian/bisexual community has in a sense taken over some of these words and tried to give it back a positive connotation rather than a negative one :]

[Denise]

im a christian but im not for gay hate because the bible never said to hate anyone so when they protest and call you words like faggot or dyke i find it disgusting and their going against their own religion i believe what you do in bed and who you do it with is your own business.