Catamite

In its modern usage the term catamite refers to a boy as the passive or receiving partner in anal intercourse with a man. In its ancient usage a catamite (Latin catamitus) was a pubescent boy who was the intimate companion of a young man in ancient Greece and Rome, usually in a pederastic relationship. It was usually a term of affection and literally means "Ganymede" in Latin. It was also used as a term of insult when directed toward a grown man.

The word derives from the proper noun Catamitus, the Latinized form of Ganymede, the beautiful Trojan youth abducted by Zeus to be his companion and cupbearer. The Etruscan form of the name was Catmite, from an alternate Greek form of the name, Gadymedes.

See also [ Homosexuality ]

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