C16: from Latin Catamītus, variant of GanymēdēsGanymede1
catamite in American English
(ˈkætəˌmaɪt)
noun
a boy used in pederasty
Word origin
L Catamitus < Etr catmite < Gr Ganymēdēs, Ganymede
catamite in American English
(ˈkætəˌmait)
noun
a boy or youth who is in a sexual relationship with a man
Word origin
[1585–95; ‹ L Catamītus ‹ Etruscan Catmite ‹ Gk Ganyme᷄dēsganymede]This word is first recorded in the period 1585–95. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: competence, develop, naturalize, switch, titular