Lewis & Short

cautēla, ae, f. [cautus, caveo] (mostly post-class.), caution, precaution.

  1. I. In gen.: si minus cum curā aut cautelā locus loquendi lectus est, Plaut. Mil. 3, 1, 6 dub. (bracketed by Brix); App. M. 2, p. 117, 7; 5, p. 160, 36.
  2. II. Esp., in the jurists, = cautio, a surety, security, Dig. 3, 3, 15; 13, 7, 6; 16, 3, 14.