CABLE LOOP:
an implement in the form of a loop, made of cable or wire coated with plastic or leather, that is used for striking. Considered a high-impact implement, it leaves a mark similar to a cane and can cause serious bruising with little force. If not used carefully, it can easily bruise vital organs such as the kidneys, and a strike against the tailbone can cause damage to the spine. Great care should be taken when using this type of device.

See related BEATER.





CABLE TIE:
more commonly known as a zip tie, a flexible, thin, notched nylon strap that threads through a small locking mechanism. Cable ties can be linked together to increase their length. Large double zip ties, known as plasticuffs, are used by police in place of handcuffs for riot control. Cable ties are sometimes used as restraints in BDSM activities. Because there is no way to unlock a standard cable tie, and because these devices can easily tighten to the point of cutting off circulation, it is recommended that a dominant always keep a pair of EMT scissors nearby when using this sort of restraint. In some cases, playing with cable ties can be considered dangerous.

See also PLASTICUFFS.





CAGE:
a term that can refer to either a bondage cage or a chastity cage.

See BONDAGE CAGE and CHASTITY CAGE.



CANDAULISM:
the sexual practice or fantasy in which a man exposes his female partner, or images of her, to other people for their voyeuristic pleasure. It can also refer to the practice in which a man derives enjoyment from watching his female lover engage in sex with another person.

See sometimes related CUCKOLD.





CANE:
a thin, flexible instrument used for striking. The favored material for canes is rattan, but they can also be made of other flexible woods or plastic. Some canes are made of bamboo, which lasts for only a couple of strikes before splintering. Canings leave distinctive, painful welts, sometimes referred to as wheals. Historically, caning became the leading form of corporal punishment in the 19th century, surpassing the popularity of the birch rod. It was used primarily in British homes and schools to punish students for minor infractions. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, caning was a common form of domestic corporal punishment for the disobedience of both wives and children. A heavier, more severe form of caning was used for judicial purposes, a practice that is still in use in some countries. A cane used for historical corporal punishment usually resembled a walking cane with a curved crook handle at one end, featuring a yellowish-amber color when new. Currently, there are many types of canes available with various handle designs, constructed from many different types of materials.





CARABINER:
a D-shaped metal ring with a spring-loaded gate, used to connect chains or ropes. There are many types of carabiners used for the various kinds of rigging in BDSM.





CARPET BEATER:    see BEATER.



CAT:
a generic term for a flogger or any whip with multiple lashes. It most commonly refers to the cat-o'-nine-tails.

See CAT-O'-NINE.





CATFISHING:
the action of luring someone into an online relationship by means of a fictional persona or fake identity. It involves pretending to be someone else to con a person for financial gain or vindictive fulfillment. This practice is common on BDSM-related social networking sites due to the appeal of online sexual fantasy, combined with the fact that adult platforms often provide higher levels of anonymity compared to standard social networks, making fake profiles easier to create.





CATTLE PROD (STOCK PROD):
a handheld device with electrodes at the tip, similar to a stun gun, designed to move livestock by delivering an electric shock. Like any electricity play, using a cattle prod can be dangerous, particularly because of the high voltage the device emits. It is possible to stop a human heart, disrupt bodily functions, or cause permanent injury or death. It is advisable to never use a stun gun, cattle prod, taser, or any other high-voltage device for the purpose of BDSM play. Despite the obvious dangers involved, some individuals choose to ignore the risks and use them anyway, which is why the term is included in this glossary. All dangerous BDSM activities or edgeplay involve varying levels of risk; however, playing with a cattle prod is considered extremely high risk and is strongly discouraged.





CAT-O'-NINE (CAT-O'-NINE-TAILS):
a specific type of flogger with nine braided lashes, usually made of rope or cord, sometimes with knots at the tips. It is designed to lacerate the skin and cause intense pain. Historically, the cat-o'-nine-tails, nicknamed the "Captain's Daughter," was a flogger used by the British Royal Navy and throughout most of Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries. It was used on British sailing vessels as a form of corporal punishment for any number of infractions, including those resulting from a court-martial. The manner in which rope was plaited and then unraveled at the time gave it the nine falls (tails). The knotted rope falls were often soaked in brine or seawater for an added sting and to act as an antiseptic. The wounds from the "cat" could result in severe lacerations. Brine or seawater was also poured over the open wounds after a flogging to help fight infection, giving rise to the idiom "salt in the wound," meaning to add insult to injury. Many idioms can be attributed to the cat-o'-nine-tails, such as "no room to swing a cat," which originally referred to a tight space where a person lacked the clearance to swing the whip. There were many variations of the cat, the most common featuring a wooden handle and nine knotted cords. There was also a more elementary version created by tying a rope into a handle, leaving the loose ends for the knotted falls. After punishment, the cat-o'-nine-tails was often soaked in blood from the wounds it inflicted. The blood-soaked flogger was sometimes simply tossed overboard, and a new rope flogger was then tied for the next time punishment was handed out. The special knots on the falls are called blood knots or barrel knots, tied in such a way that the rope travels in a straight line before and after the knot. The cat was a widely used implement for punishment on land as well. There were many different types of rope floggers used in prisons, homes, schools, government buildings, and churches. A smaller version that utilized thinner cord was used by priests and monks for self-flagellation. Catholics in some South American countries used a heavier version of the rope flogger called a cuerda (Spanish for rope). Some cats were also made from fine strips of leather that were twisted and braided to resemble rope.





CATHERINE'S WHEEL:
a large, upright wooden wheel attached to a wall or frame, onto which a person may be bound and then rotated into position for flagellation. It can also be used to spin a person until they become disoriented. The original Catherine's wheel was a device used in the Middle Ages for torture, also known as a breaking wheel, which often included attached spikes.





CATHETER:
a flexible tube designed to be inserted through the urethra into the bladder. In BDSM, the device is most often used on male participants (those born with a penis) during medical play, sometimes specifically for sexual gratification.





CBT:    see COCK & BALL TORTURE.



CELL POPPING:   see DEVIL'S FIRE.



CHASTITY:
the practice of a dominant disallowing a submissive sexual activity or sexual release. It is the practice of refraining from sexual activity or penetration, usually imposed by another.



CHASTITY BELT:
any device used to prohibit the wearer from engaging in sexual intercourse. It is worn in place of underwear, featuring a lockable harness that prevents the vagina or anus from being penetrated. Early medieval chastity belts were rumored to be made of metal; however, modern historians generally agree that such historical devices were myths or satirical jokes rather than actual historical practices. Either way, the concept of chastity bondage remains highly popular today.





CHASTITY CAGE (COCK CAGE):
a common male chastity device placed around the penis and locked, designed to prevent erection and orgasm. Though most chastity devices are designed to completely disallow sexual activity, chastity cages are often used in conjunction with anal sex, where the male in the device acts as the receiver. These devices are usually made of metal or durable plastic. Some models feature plastic locks so the wearer can safely pass through metal detectors. Male chastity devices are also frequently utilized in humiliation play.

See related GATES OF HELL.





CHASTITY PIERCING:
any piercing that temporarily prohibits the wearer from having sexual contact or intercourse.





CHEMICAL PLAY:
any form of play involving mild irritants as a form of torture, such as rubbing heated menthol cream onto the testicles or nipples. Chemical Play falls under the Sensation Play umbrella, but is less often seen as soft or sensual and instead inflicts physical or mental pain. Chemical play is considered dangerous when using creams or other substances against the way they are prescribed or directed on their packaging.





CHICKEN PLAY (COCK & HEN PLAY):
a form of animalism in which participants take on roles that resemble chickens and/or chicken-like behavior. It is said to be related to a fertility and harvest ritual in Luxembourg that dates back to the 16th century. Those who engage in chicken play host elaborate, chicken-themed play parties called hen house parties.



CHICKENHAWK:
a slang term for a gay male who seeks out very young gay males. Outside of BDSM circles, the term is also used as a derogatory reference to a pedophile.



CHDW (Pronounced chud-wa):
a derogatory term first coined on internet newsgroups for a dominant with little or no real-world experience in BDSM who behaves recklessly. The acronym stands for "clueless horny (or heterosexual) dom wannabe," describing a person who engages in BDSM for the sole purpose of finding sexual partners but has no real interest in the practice itself.



CHILD PLAY:   see AGE PLAY.



CILICE:
a spiked or tined chain worn around the thigh or neck to produce discomfort and pain. The modern chain device is famously used by members of the Catholic institution Opus Dei, who wear it for two hours a day (except on Sundays and feast days) to mortify the flesh, penance for sins, and share in the suffering of Christ. Historically, the term originally referred to a coarse garment made of haircloth or animal hair worn by religious ascetics as a sign of atonement. Today, within BDSM contexts, the term specifically refers to the metal spiked chain utilized for sensation and pain play.





CINCHER:
a tight corset, shorter than a standard corset, that wraps primarily around the wearer's waist. It is usually an "underbust" corset that exposes the breasts.

See related CORSET.





CITRUS II:
a hospital germicidal deodorizing cleaner found in most medical supply stores. The cleaner kills most germs and viruses, including HIV, and is safe to use on most dungeon equipment without fear of bleaching.



CLEAVE GAG:
a cloth gag that is pulled between the teeth and firmly tied behind the head. Like most gags, it is designed to muffle rather than completely silence a person, though it is often less effective at muffling than other types of gags in BDSM.





CLOTHESPIN:
a wooden or plastic clip used for securing clothes to a clothesline, frequently utilized in BDSM play to pinch a person's skin.

See related ZIPPER.







CLOVER CLAMP:
a specialized type of nipple clamp featuring a mechanical design that automatically increases squeezing pressure when an attached chain, cord, or weight is pulled.





CLUBDOM:
a derogatory term for a dominant—typically male—who plays at fetish clubs or play parties while focusing primarily on his personal popularity and performance within the community. The term generally implies a dominant with little real experience who is preoccupied with his public appearance rather than concentrating on the needs, experience, and safety of the submissive partner. It is similar in meaning to a CHDW.

See CHDW.



CLUB DOMME:
refers to the female counterpart of a clubdom.

See CLUBDOM.



COACHWHIP:   see BUGGY WHIP.



COCK AND BALL TORTURE (CBT):
any torture play inflicted on the penis and/or testicles.





COCK BONDAGE:
any form of restraining the penis.





COCK CAGE:   see CHASTITY CAGE.





COCK DOCKING:
a sexual act between two males involving the placing of the heads of their penises together. Most frequently, the term refers to inserting the head of one penis into the loose foreskin of an uncircumcised partner's penis and then pulling the foreskin forward to enclose both heads. It is also known as gay docking, foreskin docking, dry docking, or hard docking, though the terms dry docking and hard docking are sometimes used separately to describe sexual intercourse performed without proper lubrication.

See DRY DOCKING (HARD DOCKING).





COCK FIGHTING:
an uncommon practice in which one or more dominants (typically female) force two naked, lubricated male submissives to engage in a wrestling match where the objective is mutual anal penetration. The submissive who successfully overpowers and penetrates the other wins the match, gaining favor with the dominant, while the loser faces punishment. This activity is sometimes facilitated by administering erectile dysfunction medications such as sildenafil citrate (Viagra).
SPECIAL NOTE: Administering any prescription medication or drug to another person without a licensed physician's prescription is extremely dangerous and illegal.



COCK RING:
a rubber, silicone, leather, or metal ring placed around the base of the penis to allow blood to enter the organ while constricting its outward flow, thereby maintaining an erection. Some designs feature adjustable leather straps or drawstring mechanisms.





COCK WORSHIP:
the practice of body worship focused specifically on the dominant's penis. Through this practice, the submissive worships the dominant, typically by performing oral sex.





CO-DOM:
a dominant who acts as a partner to another dominant in a play session.



CODE WORD:   see SAFEWORD.



COFFIN:
a bondage box, shaped like a traditional coffin, designed to lock a person inside for confinement. Often, the box will feature specialized openings to grant a dominant physical access to specific body parts of the submissive.





COLLAR (SLAVE COLLAR):
a band or strap made of leather, metal, or other materials worn around the neck as a symbol of submission or a commitment to a Master/slave relationship. It frequently features an O-ring for attaching a leash or lead and may include a locking mechanism to prevent easy removal. Designs vary widely, ranging from styles resembling domestic pet collars to heavy metal bands inspired by historic restraints. While the collar typically represents a profound, long-term lifestyle relationship between a dominant and a submissive, it is also sometimes worn purely as decorative jewelry or as a general indicator of a submissive orientation within the BDSM community.





COLLAR PROTOCOL:
a term for the common etiquette in the BDSM community stating that a collared person should not be approached by another individual, especially another dominant, without first gaining permission from their Master. To do so is considered disrespectful and rude.



COLLAR TRAINING:
a period when a dominant trains their submissive to wear a collar to establish protocols and serve them. The term also refers to a timeframe in which the dominant is considering a BDSM relationship.

See related TRAINING COLLAR.



COLLARED:
the state of being engaged in a long-term BDSM relationship as a submissive to a dominant. The term is also used for a slave to a master or mistress.





COLLARING CEREMONY:
a formal ceremony celebrating the long-term commitment made between a dominant and submissive, similar to a wedding. It is often a celebration marking the beginning of a TPE relationship. TOTAL POWER EXCHANGE.



COMMUNITY:    see BDSM COMMUNITY.



CONDITIONING:
the deliberate process of creating a psychological link between a desired response and an unrelated stimulus. The term also refers to training a submissive to respond in a way desired by their dominant.



CONDOM (PROPHYLACTIC):
a thin sheath, typically made of latex, used as a barrier during sex to help prevent the transmission of STIs. It is considered good practice to use condoms on toys that are shared between partners. Condoms are also made from other materials for individuals with latex allergies.



CONSENT:
permission for something to happen or agreement to do something. In a BDSM context, consent occurs when a submissive freely agrees to the conditions and actions of a play session, without coercion or duress. The difference between BDSM or sexual activities and abuse is the presence or absence of affirmative consent. Informed consent is an essential component of all BDSM play; without complete consent from the submissive, such activities are considered both physically and mentally abusive.

See related INFORMED CONSENT.



CONSENT CONTRACT
(PLAY SESSION CONTRACT OF CONSENT):
a contract between parties regarding a pending BDSM play session where it is clearly written out what will and will not be permissible during the session. Though not legally binding, the contract serves to show intent.

For an example of a play session contract of consent, CLICK HERE.

See related CONTRACT (SLAVE CONTRACT).



CONSENSUAL NON-CONSENT (CNC) ROLE-PLAY:
a situation in which a submissive knowingly and completely voluntarily gives up the ability to prevent a dominant from doing whatever the dominant wishes, within established strict guidelines. These guidelines often include hard limits put in place to limit the dominant's given power. Though the given power seems limitless outside of those hard limits, in actuality, established safewords ensure that the role-play does not cross an unforeseen boundary. This is considered a very dangerous form of edgeplay.

See INFORMED CONSENT.



CONSENSUAL NON-CONSENT (CNC) RELATIONSHIP:
usually refers to a 24/7 TPE relationship (master/slave play) with an ongoing power exchange structure in which the submissive completely voluntarily gives up the ability to prevent the dominant from doing whatever they wish, within established strict guidelines. These guidelines often include hard limits put in place to limit the dominant’s given power. Though the power seems limitless outside of those boundaries, the submissive maintains the ability to end the relationship at any time, which ensures it remains consensual. This is considered the most perilous form of BDSM relationship and an extremely psychologically risky form of edgeplay.

See related or contrast depending on your view INFORMED CONSENT and TWENTY-FOUR-SEVEN.



CONTINUOUS FLOGGING:
a flogging technique in which the flogger continuously swings in a circular fashion, striking a person on each downstroke. The term usually refers to the technique of swinging the flogger in a figure-eight (infinity symbol) motion, striking a person’s back at an angle.





CONTRACT 24/7
(SLAVE CONTRACT or SERVICE CONTRACT):
also known as a slave contract; a written agreement between a dominant and submissive that negotiates guidelines regarding activities in a BDSM relationship. It is a way of establishing rules, hard limits, and the individual roles participants are to play in a relationship. A written contract can sometimes help prevent BDSM relationships from becoming physically or mentally abusive. These contracts are not legally binding or enforceable. They do little to protect a dominant from charges of abuse should such contracts be brought into a courtroom. A submissive should still report anything they consider abusive. The contract is a useful tool for outlining what is acceptable and unacceptable in a BDSM relationship and shows a measure of intent. The contract does not release participants from basic human rights and human decency. In recent times, contracts have also been drawn up for only a single play session, known as a consent contract.

For an example of a BDSM slave contract, CLICK HERE.

In recent times contracts have also been drawn up for only one single play session, known as a consent contract.

See related CONSENT CONTRACT.



CONTRAPOLAR STIMULATION:
any form of stimulation where both pain and pleasure are administered simultaneously. "It hurts so good."

The concept is sometimes confused with the related term ALGOLAGNIA.





CORPORAL PUNISHMENT:
any physical punishment, such as spanking, caning, or flogging. In BDSM, this is considered corporal punishment play, though the word "play" is often left off the term.





CORSET:
a Victorian-style clothing piece, often made of leather, PVC, or strong vinyl, worn around the waist and cinched tight with laces in the back or sides. It often includes rigid vertical strips called boning. The corset is designed to narrow the waist and lift the breasts, creating an exaggerated form of the female body.





CORSET COLLAR:
a collar that cinches up with laces (much like a corset) rather than a buckle. Corset collars should never be laced up so tight that they restrict a person's breathing.





CORSET PIERCING:
a collar that cinches up with laces (much like a corset) rather than a buckle. Corset collars should never be laced so tight that they restrict a person's breathing.





CO-TOP:   see CO-DOM.



COUNTING (COUNTING GAMES):
the psychological practice in which a dominant commands that the submissive count out each strike during play.



CPR:
cardiopulmonary resuscitation; a life-saving procedure performed when a person’s breathing or heart has stopped. Online or in-person classes can be taken to certify an individual in CPR. It is always good practice to be prepared in the event something goes wrong during BDSM play.



CRACKER:
aalso known as a popper; a short piece of braided or twisted heavy cord string at the end of a whip that makes a loud cracking sound when the whip is snapped. The cracker is the very tip of the whip that moves faster than the speed of sound, creating a small sonic boom that produces the cracking noise.





CRACKER KNOT:
the knot that ties a cracker to the fall of a whip. Most often, this refers to an overhand knot where the fall is not pulled all the way through, ensuring the knot wraps around the cracker to secure it.





CRASH:
a sudden feeling of depression or unhappiness immediately following a BDSM session or activity.

See BOTTOM DROP.



CROP (RIDING CROP):
a thin, flexible tool used for striking, often made of a fiberglass rod wrapped in leather or nylon. The tip features a wide, flat leather loop called a keeper. The crop can produce several different sensations, depending on whether the impact is delivered by the rod, the keeper, or both. The tool was originally designed for use in equestrian activities to cue a horse.





CROSS:   see ST. ANDREW'S CROSS.



CROSS CUFFS (CROSSCUFFS):
wrist cuffs designed to hold one wrist over the other in a crossed position.





CROSS-DRESSING:
the act of wearing clothing and other adornments associated with the opposite sex.



CROSS-DRESSER:
a person who engages in cross-dressing.

See related TRANSVESTITE and TRANSGENDER.



CTC (CALL TIME CONFUSION):
refers to the confusion that can occur when something goes wrong during play regarding when to call for help. The core philosophy is that if someone contemplates seeking medical attention, then by default, it is time to seek it. As soon as confusion arises, take no chances and call for help.



CUCKOLD (CUCK):
a man with an adulterous wife. In BDSM, it refers to the fetish of a man who derives sexual pleasure from his female partner having sex with other men as a means of experiencing humiliation.



CUCKOLDRESS:
another term for a cuckqueen, referring to a woman who enjoys making her male partner or partners a cuckold by engaging in sexual relations with other men. It is often used to describe a female who enjoys sissification play.

See related CUCKQUEEN and FEMINIZATION (SISSIFICATION) .



CUCKOLDRY:
the act of making someone a cuckold, or the state or quality of being a cuckold. In a BDSM context, it refers to the act of a dominant female having sex with other partners to humiliate the submissive male. This is sometimes used as a form of punishment where the submissive male must watch the dominant female enjoy the company of another. For example, a submissive husband might be made to watch his dominant wife have sexual intercourse with other men. The term cuckold originates from the cuckoo bird, which lays its eggs in the nests of other birds. While historically used as a derogatory name for any man with an adulterous wife, the term now generally refers to the sexual fetish of the same name, in which a male gains sexual gratification from his female partner having sex with other males. The term is also now erroneously used to refer to any male and female couple who enjoy having the female partner engage in sex or sexual acts with other males without any humiliation play involved. Sometimes a dominant male will encourage his submissive female to have sex with other men and use the term cuckoldry to describe their dynamic; however, this is an inaccurate use of the term. True cuckoldry must include an element of humiliation play; without that element, the practice is instead referred to as swinging. The swinger term for a male who enjoys sharing his partner with other males without any attached humiliation is a "stag." To add to the confusion surrounding the term, some adult websites and online BDSM social networks use it to describe any sex with multiple people, including a female who enjoys her male partner having sexual relations with other women. The fetish of a male partner humiliating his female partner by having sex with other women is instead referred to as cuckqueanry.

See related contrast CUCKQUEAN and STAG.



CUCKQUEAN:
the gender opposite of a cuckold. A woman with an adulterous husband. In BDSM, it refers to the fetish of a woman who derives sexual pleasure from her male partner having sex with other women as a means of experiencing humiliation. This is not to be confused with cuckqueen, which has a different spelling and a different meaning altogether.



CUCKQUEEN (CUCK-QUEEN):
refers to a woman who enjoys making her male partner a cuckold by engaging in sexual relations with other men. Though the term cuckqueen, sometimes referred to as a "cuckoldress," actually refers to an adulterous female, it has been erroneously used by many adult websites and online social networks to describe a cuckquean, which has a different spelling and a different meaning altogether. A cuckqueen is also sometimes referred to as a vixen or hotwife.



CUFFS:
any restraint that binds a person by immobilizing their limbs.

See WRIST CUFFS and ANKLE CUFFS.





CUNNILINGUS:
stimulation of the female genitals using the tongue or lips. Oral sex performed on a female.





CUPPING (FIRE CUPPING):
a type of sensation play involving the use of small glass cups. The cups are placed over the skin and the air inside the cups is evacuated, creating a small semi-vacuum. In some cultures, cupping is an ancient form of alternative medicine, practiced for thousands of years. It is believed to promote healing by mobilizing blood flow. Historically, a flame was placed inside the cup, removed, and the cup was then very quickly placed onto a person's skin. The flame consumed all the oxygen under the cup, thus creating the semi-vacuum effect. Modern cups, called vacuum cups, do not use fire, but instead have valves and tubing attached to the top where a pump can be connected. The semi-vacuum inside the cup sucks the skin into the cup and can be strong enough to create pain, bleeding, or both, leaving a distinct, ring-shaped bruise.





CURRY COMB:
a grooming tool for livestock (primarily horses) made from rubber, plastic, or metal. The metal version is used in BDSM as an impact implement that often causes bloody wounds and a distinct ring pattern on the skin. It is frequently used in blood play.





CUTTING:
in relation to BDSM, cutting is any act in which a person cuts the skin of another or themself for the purposes of sexual gratification. When a person has an uncontrollable compulsion to cut themself, it is considered a mental disorder that should be taken seriously.

See related SCARIFICATION, BODY MODIFICATION, and KNIFE PLAY.



CVT:
an uncommon acronym for clitoris and vagina torture. The counterpart to cock and ball torture. Women having the same urges that some men do in regard to having their genitals tortured is rare.










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