Fetiche
/feɪˈtiːʃ/noun
A fetish; an object believed to have magical or supernatural power, or an object of obsessive devotion.
Did you know?English fetish comes through Portuguese feitiço, a word for a charm, spell, or sorcery, and it ultimately traces back to Latin facticius, meaning “made” or “artificial” — a reminder that once, magic was literally something humans *made*.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
facticius
“made by art; artificial”
Medieval Latin
Latin
facticius > feitiço
“a charm, spell, or magical device”
16th Century
Portuguese
feitiço
“a charm, spell, or sorcery; later an idol-like object”
17th Century
French
fétiche
“an object believed to have supernatural power”
18th Century
English
fetish
“an object treated as magically powerful; later an object of fixed obsession”