I guess most of you know that the term "sadist" comes from the Marquis De Sade.You did know that didn't you? What's perhaps a little less known is the origin of the term "masochist".

it comes from this guy. Léopold Sacher von Masoch. The term was coined by the well known psychiatrist and sexologist Krafft-Ebing. Not sure what Masoch thought about that but if it were me I'd be pissed as hell, having my name immortalized for a sexual preference, then known as a deviation.

Masoch was a witer in the 1800's and is best known for his Venus in Furs book, where this guy Severin convinces a woman called Wanda to treat him as her slave , to sign a six month slave contract and to wear furs when she feels partticularly cruel. The book was also made into a movie in 1994.

It was also the subject of a Velvet underground song (see this article for more info and to view the clip).

"Man is the one who desires, woman the one who is desired. This is woman's entire but decisive advantage. Through man's passions, nature has given man into woman's hands, and the woman who does not know how to make him her subject, her slave, her toy, and how to betray him with a smile in the end is not wise."

Masoch