cautēs (e. g. Tib. 2, 4, 9: cautĭs, Prud. στεφ. 10, 701), is, f. [kindr. with cōs, cōtis; Sanscr. s)ō, acuere, Bopp, Gloss. 353, 6], a rough, pointed rock: saxa et cautes timere, Caes. B. G. 3, 13: celsae, Enn. Ann. 402 Vahl. ex conj.: durae, Verg. A. 4, 366; Ov. M. 4, 672; 7, 418: praerupta, id. ib. 1, 719: solida, id. ib. 12, 124: inviae, Plin. 37, 2, 10, § 27.
As a symbol of insensibility, Ov. M. 11, 330.