To be a warning. A common expression used in familiar language.
The way the Repealers were used up, was a caution to the trinity of O'Connell, Repeal, and Anti-Slavery, when they attempt to interfere with true American citizens.--New York Herald.
There's a plaguy sight of folks in America, Major, and the way they swallow down the cheap books is a caution to old rags and paper-makers.--Maj. Downing, May-day in New York, p. 3.
A large portion of Capt. Marryatt's "Travels of Mons. Violet," is stolen from the New Orleans Picayune; and it will not be surprising if Kendall [the author] lets his sting into this trans-Atlantic robber. He can do it in a way that will be a caution.--Providence Journal.
The way Mr. Van Buren is a democrat, is a caution, all over. He is dyed in the wool, through and through.--Crockett's Tour, p. 207.
He was a sneezer that; and when he flourished his long whip-stick, that looked like a fishin-rod, and yelled like all-possessed, he was a caution, that's a fact.--Sam Slick in England.
Our route was along the shore of the lake in a northerly direction, and the way the icy blast would come down the bleak shore was a caution.--Hoffman, Winter in the West, p. 234.
Moses wound up his description of the piano, by saying that the way the dear creeturs could pull music out of it, was a caution to hoarse owls.--Thorpe's Mysteries of the Backwoods, p. 24.