
Fetish boots—Markusram (Flickr.com)
A is for Animal Play: When a fetish includes a sub (submissive player) taking on the role of an animal, usually a pet, like a dog, horse, cow, etc.
B is for Bondage: When restraint becomes part of the fetish play, usually involving ropes, cuffs, ball-gags, and other things that fetter and bind.
C is for Consent: An important aspect of a BDSM (Bondage/Discipline, Sadism/Masochism) relationship because it signifies mutual agreement.
D is for Dominatrix: The woman who controls the BDSM scene and usually wears recognizable fetish gear and carries domme paraphernalia to underline her role.
E is for Erotic Spanking: Spanking but not as discipline or punishment, but to sexually arouse both parties involved.
F is for Fetishism: Of course. It is a sort of “specialized” obsession with an object or experience (sometimes to the point of worship).
G is for Genitorture: In a “nutshell” (pun unabashedly intended), is torture of the genitals.
H is for Harem: When a dom (dominant) has more than one sub (submissive), the group is referred to as a harem.
I is for Impact Play: When the scene involves whips, paddles, and things to flog body parts with.
J is for John Willie: A famous British fetish photographer and bondage artist who looks up to Jorge Luis Borges for inspiration.
K is for Knife Play: When knives and pointed objects are introduced into a BDSM session but without cutting the skin or drawing blood.
L is for Leather and Latex: Important components of fetish-wear, adhering to every curve of the body and becoming focal points for specific fetishes themselves.
M is for Masochism: When someone becomes the willing recipient of pain and humiliation because they find pleasure from it.
N is for Nyoitamori: A Japanese term which fetishism and BDSM have picked up because it also involves submission and food fetishism. It is when somebody acts as a living sushi platter and buffet.
O is for Over-the-Knee: A more descriptive way to describe spanking.
P is for Ponygirl/Ponyboy: A specific example of Animal Play where one of the participants has to dress up like a pony, usually in restrictive leather, latex, or PVC complete with a mouth bit and a butt plug with a horse-like tail. They have to walk around in all fours or prance around as their “owner” orders them to.
Q is for Queer Fashion: Or what the unenlightened call those who indulge in gender-related clothing because it turns people on.
R is for RACK: Which stands for Risk Aware Consensual Kink.
S is for Safe Word: The code word or phrase you and a BDSM partner agree on to say when you want an activity to stop.
T is for Tight-lacing: An important facet of fetish clothing especially in corsets. Tight-lacing can be either seen as punishment and restriction, or as something to derive pleasure from.
U is for Uniforms: French maid, Playboy bunny, schoolgirl, teacher, nurse, or what have you, uniforms play a large part in fetish clothing and play.
V is for “Vanilla”: A derogatory term for those who don’t “get” or are averse to fetishism and BDSM in general.
W is for Wax Play: Hot wax is dripped on the submissive for an erotic mix of pain and pleasure.