FACE SITTING:
the sexual act whereby a dominant sits on the face of a submissive, who is sometimes restrained, forcing the submissive to perform oral sex and/or anilingus. It is sometimes used as a form of breath control play.





FACE SLAPPING:
the practice in which a dominant slaps the face of a submissive, used for humiliation play.





FAG HAG:
a term used to describe a female who focuses on or seeks the attention of gay males. The term also refers to women who are interested in sexual relations with bisexual males. It is considered to be a derogatory term in the vanilla world, outside of BDSM circles. Increasingly, even inside the BDSM community, the term is met with controversy.



FALLS:
another name for the lashes of a flogger, also referring to the striking end of a single-tail whip.





FALL HITCH:
the hitch at the end of a single-tail whip thong that attaches a fall. The two most common hitches are the four-point fall hitch, which is created from the remaining four strands of the whip’s final braiding and is sometimes referred to as an Australian hitch, though often simply called the "standard" or "regular" fall hitch in the United States. The other is the English eye hitch (or pseudo-English eye), which is commonly found in European countries. The English eye is often seen as the easier of the two for changing a fall and is less invasive to the braiding.





FAMILY (BDSM FAMILY):
most often referred to as a "house," a group of individuals who have agreed to be partners with one another, sometimes exclusively, in the context of BDSM play. Often, a BDSM family will take on a family-like hierarchical structure, usually consisting of a master with multiple slaves. Sometimes the family structure is a marriage or takes on marriage-like qualities.

See related HOUSE, TRIBE, POLYGAMY, GROUP MARRIAGE, and PRIDE FAMILY.



FEAR PLAY:
any activity that uses fear as a form of control. It is often achieved with blindfolds, threats of pain, and/or psychological games. In a consensual context, excitement and anticipation replace actual fear. Purposely producing fear for one’s safety is considered an act of abuse.



FEEDERISM:
a sexual fetish relating to food, in which one partner feeds the other for mutual sexual arousal. It is often practiced to encourage consensual weight gain for those who appreciate a larger body type. This can also refer to fattening up a person to the point of partial immobility as a form of bondage. Taking this practice to such extremes should be considered dangerous and very unhealthy.



FEET PORN:    see FOOT FETISH and FOOT SEX.



FELLATIO:
stimulation of the male genitals using the tongue or lips. It is oral sex performed on a male and is also known as a blow job or head.





FELTCHING:
the sexual practice of orally licking or sucking semen out of the vagina or anus of a person after sexual intercourse. It sometimes refers to the specific practice of a male sucking his own semen out of a person's anus after ejaculating. It is a term most often used in the gay community.





FEMDOM:
a power exchange between two people in which the dominant is female, often to a submissive male. It is also a loose term for a domme.

See DOMME.



FEMME:
a term for a feminine lesbian or a very feminine bisexual female, both in behavior and appearance. The term is also sometimes referred to as a lipstick lesbian. It is the opposite of a masculine lesbian, who is sometimes referred to as butch. Femme is also sometimes erroneously used to refer to a feminine male or sissy. Outside of the BDSM community and in some lesbian communities, the term is sometimes used in a derogatory sense.



FEMINIZATION (SISSIFICATION):
a form of humiliation play; it is the practice of forcing the attire, activities, and behaviors of a female on a male submissive. Such activities may include forced cross-dressing or forcing a male submissive to perform sexual acts with another male, meant to emasculate him.

See EMASCULATION and CROSS-DRESSING.



FERULA (FERULE):
a flat ruler with a widened end, formerly used by teachers for corporal punishment of students. It is also a slang term for a cane.

See CANE.





FETISH (SEXUAL FETISH):
a specific paraphilia, or a form of sexual desire in which gratification is linked to an abnormal degree to a particular object, item of clothing, parts of the body, or specific situations. Fetish is the term for a perversion from what is considered to be normal sexual behavior. Historically, the term was used pathologically by medical professionals to describe only an inherently abnormal and deviant condition, labeling any kind of unusual sexual interest as a mental disease. Today, the psychiatric field only diagnoses it as a disorder when it becomes problematic and causes an individual distress or could potentially cause harm to others. When a fetish becomes a disorder, the term fetishistic disorder is used. In the BDSM realm, the term fetish is typically reserved to describe a healthy sexual desire, whereas the term paraphilia is reserved to describe an unhealthy sexual disorder. Though these are technically incorrect uses of the terms, it helps draw a more overt contrast between healthy and unhealthy conditions. The terms fetish and paraphilia are also sometimes used synonymously, causing confusion.

See related PARAPHILIA.



FETLIFE:
a social networking website much like Facebook, catering to fetish enthusiasts and people interested in BDSM. Registration for a free membership is required to view other profiles, making the privacy level relatively minimal. Users may set their photos to be viewed by only selected "friends." The site is not indexed, and profiles are not crawled by search engines. Unlike Facebook, anonymity is easy to obtain, which sometimes creates unsafe situations. Though heavily used by the BDSM community with an overall theme focusing on healthy BDSM practices, most of the video clips uploaded by users contain simple pornography that focuses on sexual acts rather than BDSM itself. In fact, some users are porn producers using the platform to disguise advertisements by masquerading as regular creators to promote their content for free. In spite of this, the site still works to push BDSM content, including writings, groups, and events. Fetlife.com has become the "go-to" website for BDSM content and connections.





FETTERS:
another name for leg irons or leg cuffs. It is typically a historic or prison term for leg restraints with a chain short enough to prevent running at full stride, often supported by a vertical chain attached to a belt to keep the lower chain from dragging or tripping the wearer. In BDSM, the term has also become a general slang word for any ankle restraint.





FIBER OPTIC FLOGGER (LED / L.E.D. WHIP):
a device with a handle that acts as a flashlight, lighting multiple thin, clear strands for lashes that glow in programmable colors, with the brightest light appearing at the tip of each strand. Most often sold as light toys for dance festivals and raves, they were never intended for striking a person, though they have transitioned into BDSM play performances. They are sold under the names space whips, light whips, and LED whips. Many fiber optic floggers are made of polymer optical fibers rather than glass optical fibers for greater durability. However, even polymer strands cannot be swung hard without breaking. The sting from these devices is comparable to that of a horsehair flogger. Fiber optic floggers are difficult to wield and equally difficult to control. Most cannot withstand rigorous usage and are instead used to create a flashy performance without making significant physical contact.





FIDDLE:   see SHREWS FIDDLE.



FIGGING:
the practice of placing a piece of carved ginger root into the anus or vagina for the purpose of causing a burning sensation that some claim intensifies an orgasm. Its effects are considered chemical play. Many people in the BDSM community believe that figging originated in ancient Greece; however, a wild radish was actually used. Figging became popular in the Victorian era and was used in conjunction with caning. When a person clinches the anal muscles in anticipation of a strike, the stinging from the ginger root can intensify, which is why figging is often used in conjunction with impact play. The practice is considered dangerous because of how some individuals' skin reacts to the ginger oil. Carved ginger root can also sometimes cause small cuts called fissures in the anus that could become infected.





FIGURE EIGHT:
in continuous flogging, it refers to the motion a person makes that resembles an infinity sign, striking the target in down strokes. When flogging a person’s back, this motion is meant to ensure that strikes cross a person’s spine, rather than landing straight up and down directly onto a person’s spine.

See CONTINUOUS FLOGGING and DOWNSTROKING.





FINDOM:
meaning financial domination, is a fetish or power exchange dynamic in which a submissive, who is most often male, enjoys giving money or gifts to a dominant, who is most often female, usually within an online relationship, often with little or nothing received in exchange. The submissive who enjoys this dynamic is often referred to as a paypig. Because this dynamic is financially based and typically takes place online, a significant amount of catfishing, or online fraud, has been reported. Findom is also a term used as a title for a dominant person, usually a female, who demands money or gifts from submissives, serving as a play on the word femdom.

See related FEMDOM and CATFISHING.



FINGER FLOGGER:
a type of swivel flogger that features two loops for a person’s fingers rather than a traditional handle. This allows a person to wield the implement with just their fingers. Many finger floggers feature loops connected to a cap encasing the falls via swivel hooks, whereas others utilize a small length of chain.

See related SWIVEL FLOGGER.





FIRE AND ICE:
the use of hot and cold substances or liquids in sensation play, particularly dripping hot wax onto the skin and then applying ice directly to the area immediately afterward.

See related WAX PLAY.





FIRE CUPPING:   see CUPPING.



FIRE PLAY:
any practice involving the use of fire in a BDSM session or sexual activity. This practice is widely categorized as dangerous edgeplay due to the high inherent risk of severe burns and accidental ignition.





FIRE WHIP (KEVLAR WHIP):
a whip featuring a lash constructed from Kevlar that is saturated with a flammable fuel and ignited prior to use. The implement is primarily utilized in theatrical performances without a physical target. If applied directly to a person during edgeplay, the flaming lash makes only instantaneous contact with the skin to prevent deep thermal burns, though application to a human target carries an exceptionally high risk of severe injury. In most cases, flaming liquid flings off the whip during use. This ignited liquid can easily land on a person, causing severe burns. This activity should be left only to the well-trained and well-practiced. Even in the hands of well-trained individuals, the activity remains extremely dangerous.





FIRST GIRL:
another term for an alpha submissive or, in certain cultural contexts, a first wife. The term denotes a slave who holds more rights or authority over other slaves belonging to the same master. It is also utilized to describe the head submissive slave within the context of the Gor novels.

See related GOREAN D/s and ALPHA SUB.



FISTICUFF:
edgeplay that involves a dominant punching a submissive in a fleshy area, such as the buttocks, with the specific intention of leaving a bruise. The term is derived from the traditional word of the same name, which means to fight with the fists. This practice carries high physical risk due to the potential for missing a fleshy target and accidentally striking bone or sensitive areas containing vital organs close to the surface.





FISTING:
an activity where an entire hand is inserted into the vagina or anus. It is achieved by placing the fingers close together to create a cone or funnel shape, allowing for a slow, incremental insertion into the target area. The practice is often utilized to induce intense orgasms. Fisting a person's anus carries significant physiological risks. The primary hazards in anal application involve mucosal tissue tearing, which can result in severe internal bleeding or life-threatening infections requiring immediate medical attention.





FISTING SLING:
a specialized swing seat designed to support a person in a comfortably reclined position with the legs spread apart, convenient for fisting or other sexual activities.

See related SEX SLING.





FLAG OF BDSM RIGHTS:
a flag that symbolizes support for the principle that individuals with diverse sexual preferences or relationship structures, including BDSM, deserve the same human rights as all other citizens. The emblem indicates that a person should not face discrimination for pursuing BDSM activities or maintaining a leather lifestyle.





FLAG OF FEMDOM PRIDE:
a flag that symbolizes support for femdoms, including female dominants or dommes, and professional dominatrices within the BDSM community.





FLAG OF LEATHER, LATEX, & BDSM PRIDE:
a flag that symbolizes the practitioners of S&M, leather fetishes, and BDSM.





FLAG OF OWNERSHIP:
a flag that symbolizes the ownership subculture of those who participate in a 24/7 TPE (total power exchange) relationship as either owner or slave.






FLAGELLATION:
a generic term for whipping, beating, or flogging, either for discipline or for sexual gratification. In BDSM the term is most often associated with flogging with a flogger.



FLAGGING:
the act of sporting a specific, colored handkerchief, each color representing a specific form of BDSM activity. The person wearing the colored flag is expressing an interest in engaging in that specific BDSM activity.

For a list of hanky codes - see related HANKY CODE.





FLAMINGO:   see FOOT SEX.



FLESH HOOKS:   see BODY SUSPENSION HOOKS.



FLIPPING:
the practice of switching roles from bottom to top during a session. This action is not usually a welcomed practice by most practitioners except during a session that is more clinical. Switching between roles during a session, especially regarding impact play, can sometimes bring about unsafe practices, including one partner trying to outdo the other to protect their ego or established roles. Flipping roles during a session within the confines of an established 24/7 roleplay is safer, as it functions similarly to partners switching positions during sex.



FLOG:
the act of striking a person with a flogger.



FLOG & FUCK (FNF):   see FUCK & FLOG.



FLOGGER:
an implement with multiple lashes attached to a handle, used to strike a person during impact play. A flogger is typically balanced so that it can be easily wielded. The lashes vary significantly in material, such as leather, suede, horsehair, fur, rubber, rope, or plastic, which alters the sensation from thuddy to stingy. Most floggers utilize flexible leather lashes, or falls, that minimize the risk of significant tissue damage, making it the most widely used impact implement in BDSM.





FLOGGER BALANCE:
a concept in impact play asserting that a flogger’s handle should be weighted and counterbalanced relative to the mass of the falls. In theory, this distribution creates a specific feel that allows for precision and reduces fatigue during continuous swinging. In practice, the utility of balance is subjective and widely debated, as it depends entirely on the technique of the user and the preferences of individual makers.

See CONTINUOUS FLOGGING and FLORENTINE.





FLOGGING TRIANGLE:    see A-FRAME.



FLORENTINE (FLORENTINE FLOGGING):
a two-handed, continuous flogging technique where a person wields a flogger in each hand to deliver a steady, uninterrupted flow of impact. The practitioner utilizes a rhythmic, figure-eight pattern with the hands interchanging positions, typically classified into four-point or six-point variations based on the number of strikes before the sequence repeats. The name derives from a historical dual-sword combat style associated with Florence, Italy, though the mechanical motion closely mirrors poi spinning. The style emerged in the mid-1990s BDSM and goth nightclub circuit, first introduced by the practitioner Entropy, who adapted the movements from kung fu, and it has since evolved globally as many practitioners have added their own flavor to the Florentine, creating unique variations of the technique.





FLUID BONDING:
an agreement between two or more partners in a sexual relationship to practice unprotected sexual intercourse with each other. The term is often used to describe relationships within certain polyamorous groups. For example, an individual might be permitted to have protected sex with one partner while being fluid bonded with another.



FLYING:
a term for a psychological state that may occur during BDSM play, in which a submissive has rapturous, transcendent feelings. It is a state where the submissive feels a psychic connection with the dominant. Submissives who have experienced "flying" during play describe feeling as though they were protected by the dominant's spiritual self, as well as experiencing an almost out-of-body sensation.

See SUBSPACE.



FNF (EFFING-EF):   see FUCK & FLOG.



FOMITE or FOMES:
any inanimate object that, when contaminated with or exposed to infectious agents such as pathogenic bacteria, viruses, or fungi, can transfer disease to a new host. This includes any material that can carry a live virus long enough to transmit it to another person. Many BDSM implements, such as floggers and whips, are made from fabric and leather, which are porous materials that under certain conditions could be considered a fomite.



FOOD PLAY:
a practice involving the use of food on, around, or in a submissive for erotic purposes.

See sometimes related NYOTAIMORI and FEEDERISM.



FOOT FETISH:
a sexual attraction to feet. It is one of the more popular fetishisms and is often associated with male submission to women, although any sexual attraction to male or female feet by either sex is considered a foot fetish.

See sometimes related SHOE FETISHISM.





FOOT JOB:
the act of using feet to massage a male's penis to bring about sexual pleasure. It is much like a hand job but using feet.



FOOT SEX (FLAMINGO):
the sexual act of inserting a foot into a vagina or anus. It is similar to fisting but with a foot. The act is often associated with foot fetishism.

See related FOOT FETISH, FISTING, and ALIPEDI (SLIDE).



FORCED ORGASM:
an orgasm induced in a submissive against their will, within the confines of consensual non-consent play.



FORCED SEX PLAY:
a practice where sex is simulated as being forced on a submissive against their will, within the confines of consensual non-consent. It is also known as rape play. The practice is not to be confused with rape, which is a completely non-consensual act of violent assault.

See RAPE PLAY.



FORNIPHILIA:
a form of bondage and sexual objectification in which a submissive's body is bound to resemble a chair, table, or other piece of furniture. The submissive is then often used as a piece of furniture, such as a footrest. The term was originally coined by Jeff Gord. It is considered an extreme form of bondage, as the submissive is often tightly bound, and the practice is meant to immobilize them for prolonged periods. Forniphilia also pertains to using a submissive as furniture with simple honor bondage (non-physical restraints).





FOUNTAIN OF VENUS:
a slang term involving urination by a female.

See WATER SPORTS.



FREEPLAY:
any BDSM activity in which participants do not assume the roles of top or bottom, and no dominant or submissive roles are established. It is often seen as practice play. The term can also refer to a clinical session used for teaching BDSM techniques to other people.



FRENCH:
a slang term for deep kissing involving the tongue. The term, when used as a code word in BDSM, is distinct from French kissing, specifically referring to oral sex acts such as cunnilingus and fellatio.



FROG TIE:
a type of bondage in which a submissive kneels, with the ankles bound to the thighs and the wrists bound to the ankles. The position resembles a frog sitting ready to leap.





FUCKING MACHINE:
any mechanical device designed to simulate sexual intercourse, typically consisting of a motorized mechanism that drives an attached dildo or other phallic object in a thrusting motion.





FUCK & FLOG (FLOG & FUCK or FNF):
a technique in which a dominant has sexual intercourse with a submissive while simultaneously using a flogger in a steady, continuous rhythm. The activity provides contrapolar stimulation, which involves a pleasurable sensation and a painful sensation felt at the same time. Precaution is required to protect vital areas such as the neck and tailbone from injury, particularly during orgasm when the submissive may have difficulty monitoring pain levels.

See related JATO and CONTRAPOLAR STIMULATION.





FUNISHMENT:
a form of correction or penalty in a BDSM context that is intended to be lighthearted or enjoyable for both participants. While some practitioners view all play-oriented corrections as inherently non-serious, the term is specifically utilized within 24/7 Total Power Exchange (TPE) or Master/slave play dynamics to differentiate casual or playful penalties from earnest corporal punishment.



FUNNEL GAG:
a type of oral gag integrated with a funnel mechanism that allows liquids to be administered directly into the mouth of a strapped or secured submissive, compelling the individual to swallow. The activity is classified as edgeplay due to the risk of asphyxiation, aspiration, or drowning sensations, requiring significant precaution and risk management.





FUR FLOGGER:
a flogger featuring falls constructed from natural animal fur, commonly rabbit hide, or synthetic faux fur. The implement is typically utilized for low-intensity sensation play or as an introductory mechanism to warm up the skin of a submissive prior to a high-intensity session involving heavier leathers or other materials.





FURRY FANDOM (KEMONO):
a subculture also known as kemono, consisting of individuals interested in anthropomorphic cartoon-like animal characters with human personalities who take on an alter-ego character. Participants, who refer to themselves as furries, often create extensive faux-fur costumes known as "fursuits" that resemble the style of amusement park character costumes. The subculture originated in the 1980s through the publication of fanzines and the development of online social groups, leading to public meetups and social interactions in costume. While some participants maintain a completely non-fetishized persona, others incorporate a sexual component, engaging in sexual activities in costume, utilizing specialized anatomical prosthetics, and using the internal term "yiff" to indicate sexual content. A minor subset within the sexual spectrum of the subculture expresses attraction to zoophilia or bestiality, which may include the use of dildos replicating animal anatomy. Concerns exist among some participants regarding the public perception of the costumes, specifically the risk of being misidentified as pedophiles due to the visual appeal of the suits to children. A significant portion of the subculture does not engage in the lifestyle as a fetish and draws no connection between the practice and BDSM.

See related ANIMALISM.










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