LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · masculinethird declension

caulis

caulis m (genitive caulis)
Classical[ˈkau̯.lɪs]Ecclesiastical[ˈkaːu̯.lis]

Meaning

  1. masculinestalk, stem
  2. masculinestem of a cabbage

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativecauliscaulēs
genitivecauliscaulium
dativecaulīcaulibus
accusativecaulemcaulēs
caulīs
ablativecaulecaulibus
vocativecauliscaulēs

caulis (cōlis, Cato, R. R. 35, 2; Varr. R. R. 1, 31, 2; 1, 41, 6; Col. 5, 6, 36; id. Arb. 9, 2; also in Hor. S. 2, 4, 15, the best MSS have colis; and coles, Cels. 6, 18, 2; cf. cauliculus), is, m., = καυλός,
I. the stalk or stem of a plant: brassicae, Cato, R. R. 157, 2: cepae, Col. 11, 3, 21 and 58: fabarum, Plin. 18, 12, 30, § 120 et saep.: dictamni, Verg. A. 12, 413.—Of the vine, the tendrils, Cato, R. R. 33, 4; Col. 4, 7, 2.—B κατʼ ἐξοχήν, a cabbage-stalk, a cabbage, colewort, Cic. N. D. 2, 47, 120; Hor. S. 1, 3, 116; 2, 4, 15; 2, 2, 62; 2, 3, 125; Col 10, 369; 12, 7, 5; Plin. 17, 24, 37, § 240.—
II. Of things of a similar form.
A. Pennae, a quill Plin. 11, 39, 94, § 228.—
B. The stem or bony part of an ox' s tail, Plin. 11, 50, 111, § 265.—
C. In insects, a tube by which eggs are deposited, Plin. 11, 29, 35, § 101.—
D. = membrum virile, Lucil. ap. Non. p. 399, 1: (coles), Cels. 6, 18, 2; cf. Serv. ad Verg. A. 12, 413.

Origins

From Proto-Indo-European *keh₂ulis (“straight stalk”). Cognate with Sanskrit कुल्या (kulyā), Ancient Greek καυλός (kaulós, “stem”), Latvian kauls (“bone”), Old Irish cúal (“bundle of sticks”), and perhaps Old Armenian ցօղուն (cʻōłun, “stalk; straw”).

Elsewhere
  • Englishcaulis
  • Catalancaule
  • Italiancaule
  • Portuguesecaule
  • Macedonianкељ
  • Proto-Brythonic*kawl
  • Proto-West Germanic*kauli
Ibero-Romance
  • Portuguesecouvefrom unknown couve
  • Spanishcol
  • Galiciancolfrom unknown col
  • Galiciancouvefrom unknown couve
  • Galiciancouvafrom unknown couve
Insular Romance
  • Sardiniancàule
Italo-Dalmatian
  • Italiancavolo
  • Dalmatiancaul
  • Neapolitancavolo
  • Neapolitancavulu
  • Neapolitancaulo
  • Neapolitancaulu
  • Siciliancàvulu
  • Siciliancaulu
  • Siciliancavulu
  • Siciliancàulu
Northern Gallo-Romance
  • Frenchchoufrom Old French chous
Southern Gallo-Romance
  • Catalancol
  • Auvergnatchaulfrom Old Occitan caul
  • Auvergnatchaurfrom Old Occitan caul
  • Auvergnatcharefrom Old Occitan caul
  • Auvergnatchoulfrom Old Occitan caul
  • Auvergnatcholfrom Old Occitan caul
  • Auvergnatchalfrom Old Occitan caul
  • Gasconcaulfrom Old Occitan caul
  • Gasconcauletfrom Old Occitan caul
  • Languedociencaulfrom Old Occitan caul
Gallo-Italic
  • Emilianchèvol
  • Emiliancavol
  • Emiliancaul
  • Liguriancöo
  • Liguriancô
  • Liguriancúaro
  • Lombardcaul
  • Lombardcavol
  • Piedmontesecòl
  • Piedmontesecaure

In English words that came into English from caulis

  • cauliflowercaulis
  • kalecaulis
  • colecaulis
  • cauliscaulis
  • amplexicaulamplexicaulis
  • gobicaulis
  • cawlcaulis
  • caulicolecauliculus
  • cauliclecauliculus
  • cauliculuscauliculus

Quick answers

What does caulis mean in Latin?
caulis, a noun, means “stalk, stem; stem of a cabbage”.
What is the genitive of caulis?
The genitive singular is caulis. caulis is masculine, third declension.
How do you pronounce caulis?
In classical Latin, [ˈkau̯.lɪs]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈkaːu̯.lis].
Which English words come from caulis?
English words that go back to Latin caulis include cauliflower, kale, cole, caulis, gobi and cawl.