noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French cautele, from Latin cautela caution, precaution, from cautus, past participle of cavēre to be on one's guard — more at show
1. obsolete
a. : trick
b. : trickery
no soil nor cautel doth besmirch the virtue of his will — Shakespeare
2. obsolete
a. : caution
b. : precaution