bulldagger

English

Pronunciation

• (African-American Vernacular, non-rhotic) IPA^(key): [ˈbʊɫ.ˌdæ.ɡə]

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Noun

bulldagger (plural bulldaggers)

1. (slang, offensive, derogatory) A masculine or butch lesbian; a bulldyke.
   • 1969, Maya Angelou, chapter 35, in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings‎^[1], New York: Bantam, published 1971, page 238:

     After a thorough self-examination, in the light of all I had read and heard about dykes and bulldaggers, I reasoned that I had none of the obvious traits—I didn’t wear trousers, or have big shoulders or go in for sports, or walk like a man or even want to touch a woman.

   • 1992, “Big Mama”, in Roxanne Shanté (lyrics), The Bitch Is Back:

     You say you’re “Lyte as a Rock,” you get crushed like a pebble
     One word, and I’mma bag her
     Watch the bitch stagger, cause I don't dig the bulldagger
     To me a butch don’t deserve a mic in hand
     Somebody tell her to stop acting like a man
     She needs something real thick to help her out quick
     (What?) And that’s a good piece of dick

   • 2010, Gary Bridge, Sophie Watson, The Blackwell City Reader, page 249:

     The visibility of bulldaggers and faggots in the streets and clubs of Harlem during the late 1920s and early 1930s does not mean they enjoyed unqualified toleration throughout Harlem society.

Related terms

• bulldyke