cautel
noun
plural -s
1
obsolete
a
: trick
b
: trickery
no soil nor cautel doth besmirch the virtue of his will
Shakespeare
Shakespeare2
obsolete
a
: caution
b
: precaution
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Middle French cautele, from Latin cautela caution, precaution, from cautus, past participle of cavēre to be on one's guard