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This paper explores from a cognitive linguistic perspective the continuity between lexical and semigrammaticalized uses of the lexeme caudal in the noun phrase of the type [Det. caudalN1 de N2] in written peninsular Spanish. This structure yields various constructional schemas, going from [[Det. + N1] ([de + N2])] with N1 as nucleus, and more or less lexicalized [Det. N1 de N2] collocations, to [[Det. N1 de] N2] with N2 as nucleus. The meaning of the nominal caudal, linked to the fluvial scenery, presents various quantitative, spatial, tempo-aspectual and qualitative components that predispose it to metaphorical projection from the hydric domain to other domains. In the binominal quantifying construction [[un caudal de] N2] caudal keeps some nominal distributional properties, and certain facets of its lexical meaning persist as well. While the degree of schematization or semantic bleaching varies in function of N2 and of the wider context, caudal does not only quantify N2, it at the same time endows it with an aspectual-appreciatory dimension essentially conceived of in terms of fluidity, continuity and accumulation, i.e., situating N2 in an evolutionary perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]