Pronunciation: ' ko ̇ - ˌ deks
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural cau · di · ces \ ' ko ̇ -d ə - ˌ s ē z \ or cau · dex · es
Etymology: Latin, tree trunk or stem
Date: circa 1797
1 : the stem of a palm or tree fern
2 : the woody base of a perennial plant