An embankment built to prevent flooding from rivers or the sea, or a ditch for drainage. In geology, it refers to a sheet of igneous rock formed in a fracture.
From Middle English 'dike', from Old Norse 'diki' meaning 'ditch' or 'embankment'. Related to Dutch 'dijk' and German 'Deich', reflecting the importance of flood control in Northern European societies.
The Netherlands literally means 'low lands', and Dutch engineering of dykes, dikes, and polders has allowed them to reclaim vast areas from the sea - about 26% of the country is below sea level. The phrase 'putting your finger in the dyke' comes from a Dutch legend about preventing catastrophic flooding.
Dyke as a slur for lesbians emerged in 20th-century homophobic discourse, though the term has been reclaimed by LGBTQ+ communities. The water-management term (embankment) is unrelated but collision with the slur creates context sensitivity.
When discussing sexual orientation/gender identity, use only if the community self-identifies this way; otherwise use 'lesbian' or 'queer.' For water infrastructure, use freely—context clarifies meaning.
["lesbian","queer","embankment","levee"]
Lesbian and queer women have reclaimed 'dyke' as a positive identity marker; respectful usage honors this self-determination while avoiding casual deployment as slur.
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