fet·ish
also fet·ich \'fet-ish, 'fet-\ n 1: an object
(as an idol or image) believed to have supernatural or magical powers
2: an object of unreasoning devotion or concern (make a fetish
of secrecy) [French fétiche, from Ponuguese
feitiço,
from feitiço
"artificial",
from Latin facticius "factitious"] — fet·ish·ism \-,iz-am\
n
(Webster's New Encyclopedic
Dictionary)