fetich

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

fetich
    n 1: a charm superstitiously believed to embody magical powers
         [syn: {juju}, {voodoo}, {hoodoo}, {fetish}, {fetich}]
    2: excessive or irrational devotion to some activity; "made a
       fetish of cleanliness" [syn: {fetish}, {fetich}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Fetich \Fe"tich\, Fetish \Fe"tish\, n.[F. f['e]tiche, from Pg.
   feiti?o, adj., n., sorcery, charm, fr. L. facticius made by
   art, artifical, factitious. See {Factitious}.]
   1. A material object supposed among certain African tribes to
      represent in such a way, or to be so connected with, a
      supernatural being, that the possession of it gives to the
      possessor power to control that being.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Any object to which one is excessively devoted. fetichism