Skip to the word

Added 9 October 2026

dike

/daɪk/ noun

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about dike at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

(slang) offensive term for a lesbian who is noticeably masculine.
A barrier constructed to contain the flow of water or to keep out the sea.

verb

Enclose with a dike.
dike the land to protect it from water

Origin

From Northern Middle English dik and dike (“ditch”), from Old Norse díki (“ditch”). Influenced by Middle Dutch dijc (“ditch; dam”) and Middle Low German dīk (“dam”). See also ditch.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Back to today's word