Fetish Glossary

The word fetish derives from 15th century Portuguese feitiço, which meant charm or spell. A fetish is an object believed to have supernatural powers, or in particular, a man-made object that has power over others. Essentially, fetishism is the attribution of inherent value or powers to an object. The terms “erotic fetish” and “sexual fetish” were first introduced by the French psychologist Alfred Binet in the 1940s.

Today a “fetish” is an object, non-reproductive body part or action whose presence or existence causes excitement and/or arousal in an individual. An object might be latex or heels, a non-sexual body part could be legs or feet and tickling or smoking are examples of actions.

“Fetish” is also used as an adjective that relates to anything connected to the world of BDSM (Bondage, Discipline, Domination, Submission, Sadomasochism) such as fetish wear or fetish clubs.

Please find Venus O’Hara’s Fetish Glossary below with definitions and images.

Apron Fetish

Apron fetishists understand that this particular garment doesn't just protect clothes when someone is cooking. Most people, if they see an apron being worn by an attractive woma...Read more

Armpit Fetish

The armpit fetish – or maschalagnia - has only recently crossed over into mainstream consciousness via popular media. Armpit fetishists experience a powerful sexual attraction to...Read more

Blindfolds

Blindfolds possess unique fetishistic potential. They are particularly potent when used to experiment with the sensory deprivation of a ...Read more

Bondage

Bondage is the art of restraining someone or tying them up in some way that induces intense feelings of sexual gratification for both parties in opposite ways. It can be as simp...Read more

Bra Fetish

For bra fetishists, the reality of naked female breasts can never be as stimulating or significant to them as the way that those breasts can be presented by a brassiere that per...Read more

Bridal Fetish

Plenty of men are into the bridal fetish. Traditionally, a bride, dressed in white silks and satins, is a visual metaphor for virginity and exclusivity. Her imminent sexual unav...Read more

Cleaning Fetish

In cleaning fetish, a subordinate performs menial duties around a house, or apartment, for the viewing pleasure of a fetishist. This usually takes place in an exaggerated recrea...Read more

Collar Fetish

In collar fetishism, a submissive wears a collar to represent his or her status as an owned creature or as property possessed by a dominant or goddess. To be “collared” is a...Read more

Corset Fetish

Corsets are a key component in sexual fetishism, most obviously in BDSM activities. In a BDSM scene or relationship, a submissive can  wear a corset which could be laced very tigh...Read more

Domination

In BDSM, a top or dominant is the partner in a BDSM relationship or scene who takes the active or controlling role over that of the bottom or submissive partner.Domi...Read more

Flagellation

Flagellation or flogging is the act of methodically beating or whipping (Latin flagellum, “whip”) the human body. Specialised implements for it include rods,switches, the ca...Read more

Food Fetish (Eating Fetish)

Voyeuristic food fetishists are usually male and, in most cases, they take the food imagery so popular in women's magazines one step further and seek to realise their erotic fan...Read more

Foot Fetish

Podophilia or foot fetishism represents a highly advanced fetish in that it duplicates the attractions of an entire sexualised body but in a much reduced and simplified form. Gener...Read more

Freckle Fetish

The freckle fetish is an essential kink for individuals who appreciate the effect that decorative imperfections have when seen on very pale skin. The patterns that freckles make on...Read more

Fur Fetish

The potency of the fur fetish can be partially explained by the sense of its forbidden qualities. The main reason, however, is that it gives a woman presence, power and authority: ...Read more

Gags

Gag fetishists enjoy that object's ability to restrict but not eliminate the vocalisations of the individual wearing it. A gag can be added to a variety of different bondage games ...Read more

Gingham Fetish

It only took me a short time to understand why gingham is such a major turn-on for some people, me included. A gorgeous young woman looks even younger when she puts on a gingham...Read more

Glasses Fetish

Glasses fetishism is characterised by the effect that a pair of glasses can have on the erotic imagination of a spectator. Glasses are often a key component in many role-playing sc...Read more

Gloves Fetish

Glove fetishism is a specific clothing fetish where an individual is attracted to, and stimulated by the sight of another person, or themselves, wearing gloves on their hands. The ...Read more

Handcuffs Fetish

The effect and attraction of handcuffs, to a fetishist, are as significant in the concept of them as they are in the use of them. They have become a vital component...Read more

Heels Fetish

Heels Fetish is based on the transforming quality of premium footwear on the shape of the female foot and lower leg. To wear high-heels well an...Read more

Hoodie Fetish

Hoodie Fetish relates to a single piece of modern clothing that contains, within it, conflicting messages and meanings. It is this quality which permits fetishists, to impose their...Read more

Hoods and Masks

Hoods and masks appeal to fetishists in a specific and powerful way. Whether made from rubber, latex, PVC or leather, their unique value lies in the effect they have on the individ...Read more

Hosiery Fetish

Hosiery fetishists have an attraction towards individuals wearing either tights or stockings and they are also drawn to the individual items in their own right. The common denomina...Read more

Latex Fetish

Latex has become such an important fetishistic material that it has become almost interchangeable with real flesh for many latex fetishists. Latex can re-shape, sculpt and transfor...Read more

Legs Fetish

Modern leg fetishism has been with us ever since the end of the Great War. After that, skirts began to rise, revealing the calf and then the knee.Thick, unflattering, stockings wer...Read more

Lips Fetish

The significance of lip fetishism is so ingrained in the male psyche that it is hard to separate it from the obvious visual metaphor that it represents. For men who fantasise about...Read more

Lipstick Fetish

The popularity of the lipstick fetish can be explained quite simply; some colours, particularly red, when applied to a woman’s facial lips make a direct imaginative connection be...Read more

Long Hair Fetish

Trichophilia or hair fetishism is a paraphilia in which the subject of the fetish becomes sexually stimulated in the presence of-or is compelled by-human hair. It is most commonly ...Read more

Mismatched Underwear Fetish

The fetish appeal of mismatched underwear for its enthusiasts works its magic despite, or because of, the popular perception that lingerie sets of the same, unified, design are wha...Read more

Neck Fetish

Neck fetishists find the female neck to be the centre of their obsessions and its veneration to be the best way to realise their own arousal. Necks are particularly vulnerable and ...Read more

Panty Fetish

Some fetishists prefer women's panties to any other fetish object. Their eroticisation of this underwear can encourage behaviours which can include the collection and sharing of pr...Read more

Redhead Fetish

The Redhead Fetish has been around for centuries. Russet, ginger or honey-blond, it doesn't matter how it's described-this shade maintains its popularity despite the increasing rar...Read more

Ripped Clothes Fetish

The act of ripping clothes apart as they are being worn by a beautiful woman is a highly popular fetish because the identification of the garment with the body that wears it all...Read more

Ripped tights

There is nothing more essential to some fetishists than the sight of a young woman wearing ripped tights. This type of hosiery was intended as a functional replacement for traditio...Read more

Schoolgirl Fetish

The fetish for women dressed as schoolgirls is significant in Japan where a highly formal subculture has grown to cater to consumers of this imagery. Every country has its own vari...Read more

Secretary Fetish

The secretary fetish is based on the imagined persona of of an individual, traditionally a woman, who represents the kind of professional submissive that we are all familiar with. ...Read more

Smell

There can be a surprising disconnect between raw, physical attraction and the deeper animal knowledge that can be found in the mix of pheromones that a new partner offers. It is...Read more

Smoking Fetish

Smoking fetishists are aroused by the sight of someone enjoying a cigarette. Seen as a socially unacceptable habit, the eroticisation of the cigarette is a procovative act in which...Read more

Smudged Make-up Fetish

The fetish for seeing women with smudged make-up is a kink that relies upon the disruption of a widely accepted enhancement to female beauty. Cosmetics need to be thoughtfully con...Read more

Sock Fetish

Sock fetishism refers to those enthusiasts who are attracted to-and aroused by-the wearing of socks and their removal within sexualised scenarios.The kinky value of socks can incre...Read more

Spanking

The act of consensual spanking consists of one partner striking the buttocks of another with a bare hand to cause temporary pain and erotic sensation. When an object is used instea...Read more

Sploshing

The fetish known as “Wet and messy” is also called “Sploshing”. This kink relates to the use of sticky drinks and gooey foodstuffs to cover and smear young women in a scena...Read more

Submission

In BDSM a bottom or submissive is the partner in a BDSM relationship or a BDSM scene who takes the passive, receiving, or obedient role, to that of the top or the dominant.They ass...Read more

Thigh Fetish

Most men have experienced a powerful attraction to women's naked thighs but fetishists take the attraction to its furthest extent. Although this fetish is common, it seemed to elud...Read more

Tickle Fetish

Although many people find being tickled themselves or tickling someone else to be a pleasurable experience-even a social one-tickling fetishists take it much further than that. The...Read more

Veil Fetish

Veil fetishists understand and enjoy the significance of veils and the women who wear them, the effect that this piece of material can have on them is phenomenal. By covering, disg...Read more

Vintage Fetish

Vintage fetish is the erotic attraction to imagery, objects and lingerie / clothing from a different era. For the fetishist, the Victorian period is particularly rich in its collec...Read more

Voyeurism

To be a voyeur is to have a sexual interest in observing others or to be actively involved in the erotic surveillance of them. The desire at work in voyeurism ( from the French ...Read more

Wet and Messy Fetish (WaM)

“wet and messy” fetish is all about seeing rebellious young women being smeared and splattered with gooey foodstuffs...Read more

Wet Clothes Fetish

The attraction to wet clothes as a fetish is based on the contradiction inherent in having a fully dressed woman either being drenched in water by someone else or, ...Read more