[ad. L. Catamītus corrupt form of Ganymēdes name of Jupiter’s cup-bearer; also, a catamite.] A boy kept for unnatural purposes.
1593. Drayton, Moon-Calf, Wks. 1753, II. 484. His smooth-chind … catamite.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 111. Called Cinedopolis, by reason of certain Catamites and shamefull baggages that king Alexander the Great left there.
1699. Bentley, Phal., 417. Agatho himself … was a Catamite.
1732. Gloucester Jrnl., 18 July, 1/2. Two of those Catamites … were seen in a Caterwauling Posture in a Room of the House by the Fire-side, but were routed by the People, and narrowly escaped being mobbed.
1795. T. Taylor, Apuleius, VIII. (1822), 185. A certain young man … a common catamite.
Hence Catamited, Catamiting ppl. adjs. (as if from a vb. catamite).
1624. Heywood, Captives, II. ii. That ould catamiting cankerworme.
1697. Potter, Antiq. Greece, I. I. xxvi. If any one … who hath Jurisdiction over a Boy, take hire for him to be effeminately embrac’d; the catamited Boy shall have no Action issued out against him.
