Obs. [f. STARTING vbl. sb. (Cf. START v. 6).]
1. A hole in which a hunted animal takes refuge; transf. a place in which a criminal or a hunted enemy finds refuge.
1530. Palsgr., 276/1. Stertyng hole, ung tapynet, lieu de refuge.
1537. Layton, in Lett. Suppress. Monasteries (Camden), 76. Lyke a cony clapper full of startyng hoilles.
1559. Aylmer, Harborowe, F j. Least the contrary side might haue their refuge and startinge hole there.
1565. Stapleton, trans. Bede’s Hist. Ch. Eng., 99. To erect a monastery in the high and desert mountaines. Where before that time were rather starting holes for theues and dennes for wilde bestes, then mete mansion places for men.
1577–87. Holinshed, Chron., III. 257/1. The Welshmen … brake vpon him out of their starting-holes and places of refuge through the marishes.
a. 1593. Marlowe, Edw. II., 1436. Aduaunce your standard Edward in the field, And marche to fire them from their starting holes.
1609. Holland, Amm. Marcell., XVII. xvi. 103. The others to avoid the danger were driven to flye for refuge unto their starting holes among the blind marishes.
1613–6. W. Browne, Brit. Past., I. v. 105. Th’ insnared fish … with his franticke fits so scares the shole, That each one takes his hyde, or starting hole.
1617. Moryson, Itin., II. 272. He had razed Hen. Ovingtons Castle, and Mac Hughes Iland, which both had been neasts and starting holes for theeves.
1618. Bolton, Florus, II. iii. (1636), 87. The Deceates … thus for a long time shifted for themselves by advantage of their woods, wayes, and starting holes.
2. fig. A means of evasion; a loophole.
Extraordinarily frequent in the 16th and 17th c.
1531. Elyot, Governor, II. ix. (1880), II. 100. Perauenture some, which seke for sterting holes to mainteine their vices, will obiecte.
a. 1533. Frith, Answ. Rastell, Wks. (1573), 32/1. If they would here fayne a glose (as their maner is) when they are in a straite euer to seeke a startyng hole.
1591. Greene, Conny Catching, II. Wks. (Grosart), X. 78. There is no Act, Statute, nor Lawe so strickt conueyed, but there be straight found starting holes to auoide it.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., II. iv. 290. What trick? what deuice? what starting hole canst thou now find out, to hide thee from this open and apparant shame?
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit. (1637), 147. He thought that Harold thereby sought starting holes for to hide his perjurie.
1674. Hickman, Quinquart. Hist. (ed. 2), 46. That the poor Jansenists might have no starting hole, by slipping into which to avoid the force of this condemnation.
1688. Bunyan, Heavenly Footman (1886), 170. Because they are not willing, how many shifts and starting-holes will they have.
1696. C. Leslie, Snake in Grass (1697), 260. I see the Starting-hole that they have left, (as in all their Writings) whereby to escape from what I have before Quoted.
1801. W. Huntington, God Guardian of Poor, Ded. p. vi. And dry forms of devotion … is no better than … a starting hole to shun the cross.
