| 释义 |
† starting-hole Obs.
[f. starting vbl. n. (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.
1530Palsgr. 276/1 Stertyng hole, ung tapynet, lieu de refuge. 1537Layton in Lett. Suppress. Monasteries (Camden) 76 Lyke a cony clapper fulle of startyng hoilles. 1559J. Aylmer Harborowe F j, Least the contrary side might haue their refuge and startinge hole there. 1565Stapleton tr. 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. 1577–87Holinshed Chron. III. 257/1 The Welshmen..brake vpon him out of their starting-holes and places of refuge through the marishes. a1593Marlowe Edw. II 1436 Aduaunce your standard Edward in the field, And marche to fire them from their starting holes. 1609Holland 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. 1613–16W. 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. 1617Moryson Itin. ii. 272 He had razed Hen. Ovingtons Castle, and Mac Hughes Iland, which both had been neasts and starting holes for theeves. 1618Bolton 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.
1531Elyot Governor ii. ix. (1880) II. 100 Perauenture some, which seke for sterting holes to mainteine their vices, will obiecte. a1533Frith 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. 1591Greene 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. 1596Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, ii. iv. 290. 1610 Holland Camden's Brit. (1637) 147 He thought that Harold thereby sought starting holes for to hide his perjurie. 1674Hickman 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. 1688Bunyan Heavenly Footman (1886) 170 Because they are not willing, how many shifts and starting-holes will they have. 1696C. 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. 1801W. Huntington God Guardian of Poor Ded. 6 And dry forms of devotion..are no better than..a starting hole to shun the cross. |