BDSM Terminology

Part I

To a novice, navigating the BDSM lifestyle may seem like entering a rabbit hole of phrases and lingo that can make anyone’s head spin. I know. I've been there. Yes, there was a time when even Veronica Volt didn't know what a "scene" was or what "water sports" meant.

What I describe below is not restricted to professionals - all BDSM play can be and is practiced by the young, the old, male, female, intersex, etc. A few things to keep in mind is that everything can be practiced in varying degrees from light and sensual to vicious and hardcore. Everyone's level of enjoyment is different and it is important to respect those limits. Let's start with the basics:

Bondage Discipline Sadism Masochism

BDSM is a consensual lifestyle choice or type of adult role play between two or more individuals. While the first two words may be familiar to a layperson, sadism and masochism aren't exactly hot buttons. A sadist enjoys inflicting pain and humiliation, reveling in the misery of another. A masochist lives to receive this pain and humiliation. Together, it is a symbiotic relationship.

BDSM encompasses so many fun activities from the traditional flogging, whipping, and spanking to the more unconventional activities such as enema play, water sports, and electrosex. Go here to read more about Dominance & Control.

Scene

A scene is a negotiated play period between two or more partners to experience BDSM/Fetish activities. It is supposed to be consensual and safe.

Nonconsensual

A fantasy of forced acts although it is negotiated in a consensual environment. Also called Non-con.

Hard Limit

The line that must not be crossed. A hard limit is an activity that is a definite turn-off. Example: Scat play (gaining sexual pleasure from the excretion of human feces) is a hard limit for many along with blood and needles. It's different for everyone.

Watersports

Pee play, also referred to as golden showers (GS for short) and Goddess drops. The act can be performed as either consumption or as a 'shower' over the body.

Sissy training

This one is slightly confusing since there are two branches to this tree. Sissy training can be just that: sissification of a man to be outwardly transformed as a woman through the use of makeup, wigs, and clothing. Another use of the term is to describe pegging.

Pegging

Anal strap on sex performed on a man by a woman.

CBT

Cock and ball torture, also referred to as genitorture. A big misconception is that CBT involves only pain of the undesirable sort. This is not the case and in many instances, can be very pleasurable.

Impact Play

This is what people think of when they think of Dominatrices: flogging, whipping, spanking, paddling, and caning. It is also known as Corporal Punishment (CP for short).

Nipple Torture

NT for short. The act of squeezing, pinching, touching, licking, kissing, stretching, pulling, compressing, suctioning, and biting the nipples.

Stay tuned for Part Two of BDSM Terminology.

Guest Author for Geisha Diaires: Miss Veronica Volt, Pro-Domme at Deviant Domain, L.A.