EDGEPLAY:
any dangerous practice or play that involves a substantial risk of physical or psychological injury. Breath control, fire play, knife play, single-tail whips, erotic asphyxiation, blood play, and some forms of electrical play are but a few activities that are considered edgeplay.



EDGING (PEAKING):
a practice of bringing sexual arousal to oneself or to another to the brink of orgasm and then stopping before reaching climax. This involves sexual stimulation while ensuring that no climax is reached. It is often used as a technique in orgasm denial play, bringing about a feeling of frustration for the submissive. It is said that once a person does climax after several sessions of edging, the orgasm is twice as intense. Some believe the practice can be unhealthy for some individuals in the long term.



ELECTRICAL PLAY:
any practice involving the use of electrical current to stimulate or cause a sudden painful shock to a person. Violet wands, electric flyswatters, and TENS units are but some of the equipment used in electrical play. Some forms of electrical play are considered edgeplay and can be very dangerous. Any amount of electrical current administered across the chest, near or around the heart, can sometimes induce heart arrhythmia, or worse, a heart attack. Even low-voltage play should never be used around pacemakers or other heart rhythm devices.





EMASCULATION (EMASCULATION PLAY):
a form of humiliation play by psychologically weakening a male submissive. It is play that involves making a male submissive feel less masculine.

See related FEMINIZATION.



EMBLEM OF BDSM:
a design based on a triskelion shape. The triskelion shape has been used in many cultures throughout history with various meanings. The BDSM emblem used today has a basic triskelion shape of three spokes curving out from the center within an encompassing circle. The spokes are gold, silver, or copper to represent metal, and they travel outward so that the design appears to move counterclockwise. The circle is the same width as the spokes. The inner fields, which make up a yin-yang-type shape, are black. There are three holes in these fields, punctuating the design. Critics argue that all these conditions must be met before it can be recognized as the true symbol of BDSM. However, variations of the triskelion symbol are increasingly being used to represent BDSM. This is likely due to practical graphic concerns rather than ignorance of the exact specifications of the symbol. When dots are placed instead of holes, or the middle or outside edge is made a different color, it can resemble a symbol already used by other groups. For example, dots in place of holes create a symbol used by an ancient martial arts family in Japan. Because the symbol is increasingly being used in slightly different variations to represent BDSM, certain iterations of the symbol now serve dual purposes with two meanings. If the symbol is seen with dots rather than holes, accompanied by a naked woman being fondled and flogged, the symbol most likely represents BDSM rather than an ancient Japanese martial arts family.





EMBLEM OF KAJIRA:
a symbol for a slave, adapted from John Norman's novel series Gor. It is a lowercase letter "K", usually depicted as red, with embellishments on the ends of the letter.

See related GOREAN D/s.





EMBLEM OF A MASTER:
a symbol for a master, usually representing a master who owns a submissive in a TPE relationship. It consists of an arrow pointing up, which is a common symbol for a male, on top of a shield shape.





EMBLEM OF A MISTRESS:
a symbol for a mistress, usually representing a mistress who owns a submissive in a TPE relationship. It consists of a plus symbol, which is a common symbol for a female, on top of a shield shape.





EMBLEM OF A FEMALE SLAVE:
a symbol for a female slave owned by a master or mistress in a TPE relationship. It consists of a plus symbol, which is a common symbol for a female, encompassed by a circle that represents a large letter "O" to mean owned. The circle is the same thickness as the plus symbol.





EMBLEM OF A MALE SLAVE:
a symbol for a male slave owned by a master or mistress in a TPE relationship. It consists of an arrow pointing up, which is a common symbol for a male, encompassed by a circle that represents a large letter "O" to mean owned. The circle is the same thickness as the arrow pointing up.





EMT SCISSORS (BANDAGE SHEARS):
medical scissors specifically designed to cut bandages, fabric, or rope off a person. The bottom blade of the scissors is shaped in such a way as to help prevent cutting or gouging the skin. EMT scissors are particularly handy when trying to free someone from bondage involving rope, cloth, vinyl, or tape in the event of an emergency.





ENCASEMENT:
any bondage in which a person is encased in a device that completely immobilizes them.   

See related MUMMIFICATION.



ENDORPHINS (ENDORPHIN RUSH):
any of a group of hormones secreted within the brain and nervous system, or the feeling of exhilaration brought on by their release during a session. Endorphins are produced by the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus as a reaction to exercise, excitement, fear, pain, love, and orgasm. They can produce feelings of well-being. The term "endorphin rush" is sometimes used in BDSM to describe this state, which brings some people to a state of subspace.



ENEMA:
a procedure in which liquid is injected into the rectum, usually through a thin plastic nozzle inserted into the anus, typically to expel the contents of the bowels. In BDSM, an enema is often used as a form of humiliation, or as a tool to prepare someone for anal sex.





ENGLISH:
code term for caning.

See CANE.



EROTICA:
writings that are of an erotic nature or sexually explicit. The term is also sometimes used for erotic photography or erotic films. Many stories that involve BDSM activities fall under this category.   

See BDSM PORNOGRAPHY.



EROTIC (SEXUAL) ASPHYXIATION:
sometimes referred to as breath control play, it is the intentional restriction of oxygen to the brain for sexual arousal, to intensify the pleasure of an orgasm, or to heighten BDSM activities. Those who engage in this practice are sometimes referred to as gaspers. When the brain is restricted from oxygen by inhibiting breathing or by compressing the carotid arteries, a person may feel lightheaded, which can heighten sexual sensations or alter the perception of pain. This is an extremely dangerous practice. Breath control play is a form of edgeplay that is frequently underestimated by practitioners, despite being one of the most hazardous activities with a high risk of permanent injury or death.

See related BREATH CONTROL PLAY.





EROTIC HUMILIATION PLAY:   see HUMILIATION PLAY.



ETIQUETTE OF BDSM (PROTOCOLS OF BDSM):
the customary code of behavior observed while engaging in BDSM activities, or the social code within BDSM communities. This includes the foundational requirements of mutual consent and agreements regarding the limits of any activity. For example, in many circles it is considered a breach of etiquette to approach or distract a person while they are engaged in play.



EUPHORIA:
a feeling or state of intense excitement, happiness, and well-being. The term is often used synonymously with subspace.

See SUBSPACE.



EVIL STICK (PAIN STICK or SADIST STICK):
an implement for striking, usually approximately 25cm in length and 2mm in diameter, constructed from a carbon fiber reinforced plastic rod. It is utilized by holding the handle firmly, bending the tip, and allowing it to snap onto the skin. Certain variations feature a small ball near the tip that concentrates the kinetic energy onto a smaller surface area to intensify the sensation of pain. Additionally, the term is occasionally applied to a cattle prod.

See UN-related CATTLE PROD.





EXECUTIONER'S HOOD (GUILLOTINE HOOD):
aa leather hood that covers the entire head except for the eyes. It mimics the hoods historically worn by executioners.





EXHIBITIONISM:
extravagant behavior intended to attract attention to oneself. In a psychological context, it can refer to a condition characterized by the compulsion to display one's genitals in public. Within BDSM and alternative lifestyles, it often involves engaging in sexual activities while others watch, allowing participants to become sexually aroused.



EXHIBITIONIST:
a person who engages in exhibitionism. This includes someone who is sexually aroused by exposing their naked body to others, as well as someone who enjoys engaging in sexual acts while people watch.



EYE CONTACT PLAY:
the practice of restricting a submissive from making direct eye contact with a dominant.








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