n. Alternate spelling of power
dyke. Refers to a member of an elitist lesbian clique, esp. those with a lot of in-group sex/dating. Powerdykes tend to be sexually linked to each other within two or three degrees of separation.
Although most powerdykes are butch, some controversy exists over inclusion of others in the definition. This is a paticularly notable issue among the femme and
bisexual girlfriends of powerdykes. They often have as much social
clout as the butches themselves, but some purists insist that the "powerdyke" label is related to the
dyke appearance as much as it is to popularity. Consensus on this varies by region.
The term "powerdyke" itself originated on the UC Santa Cruz campus but has since spread throughout the nation. It is still primarily used in the
college and twenty-something age groups.