caution
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Anything out of the common way. "He’s a CAUTION," is said of an obdurate or argumentative man. The phrase is also used in many ways in reference to places and things.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “caution” mean?
Anything out of the common way. "He’s a CAUTION," is said of an obdurate or argumentative man. The phrase is also used in many ways in reference to places and things.
Is “caution” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.