catamite

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English

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Etymology

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From Latin catamītus (boy kept as a sexual partner), from Catamītus, from Etruscan 𐌂𐌀𐌕𐌌𐌉𐌕𐌄 (catmite), from Ancient Greek Γανυμήδης (Ganumḗdēs, Ganymede), an attractive Trojan boy supposedly abducted to Mount Olympus by the god Zeus to become his cupbearer and lover. Doublet of Ganymede.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈkætəmaɪt/
  • Hyphenation: cat‧a‧mite

Noun

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catamite (plural catamites)

  1. A boy or younger man in a homoerotic relationship with an older man. [1552]
    Synonyms: Ganymede, punk, gunsel; see also Thesaurus:male homosexual

Derived terms

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Translations

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Verb

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catamite (third-person singular simple present catamites, present participle catamiting, simple past and past participle catamited)

  1. To engage in a homoerotic relationship involving a boy and an older man.

See also

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References

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