spec. The ‘scratch’ or line at which a marksman stands when shooting at a target, or on which the competitors stand before beginning a race.

the place in or from which a person or thing starts (in various senses); a starting point; (in later use sometimes spec.) the place occupied by a…

The starting point of a race or a marker by which this point is signified; (Roman History) the set of starting gates in a circus used for chariot…

gen. A fence or material obstruction of any kind erected (or serving) to bar the advance of persons… Applied to the carcer or starting-place in the…

In plural. The starting-place of a race (= Latin carceres); also in extended use. In singular: a racecourse or exercising ground for horses. Obsolete.

a post which marks the place from which the competitors in a race are to start; frequently figurative.

Sport. A line or mark drawn as an indication of a boundary or starting-point; †in Cricket, a ‘crease’ (obsolete); in Pugilism, the line drawn…

a real or imaginary line used to mark the place from which a race starts; also figurative and in extended use.

Chiefly Sport (originally Athletics). A competitor's starting point in a race; a line drawn to indicate this.

= starting line n. at starting, n. compounds 4; frequently in extended use in Military contexts.

spec. A starting-gate.

Horse Racing (Australian and New Zealand). A foldable barrier used in trotting races to facilitate a flying start; = mobile barrier n. at mobile…