Lewis & Short

† cactus, i, m., = κάκτος,

  1. I. a prickly plant with edible stalks, etc., found in Sicily, Spanish artichoke: Cynara cardunculus, Linn.; Plin. 21, 16, 57, § 97.
  2. II. Trop., any thing thorny, unpleasant: eradicato omni cacto et rubo subdolae familiaritatis, Tert. Pall. 2 fin.