Trojan youth taken by Zeus as his cup-bearer (and lover), from Greek Ganymedes, literally "rejoicing in his virility," from ganymai "I rejoice, am glad" (related to ganos "brightness; sheen; gladness, joy; pride") + medea (plural) "counsels, plans, cunning" (see Medea), but here taken by many writers to mean "genitals." Used figuratively of serving-boys (c.1600) and catamites (1590s). Associated with Aquarius in the zodiac. As the name of one of the four large satellites of Jupiter, by 1847.