At a start he was betwixt them two.
Chaucer.
To get, or have, the start, to before another; to gain or have the
advantage in a similar undertaking; -- usually with of. "Get the start
of the majestic world." Shak. "She might have forsaken him if he had
not got the start of her." Dryden.
Start, n. [OE. stert a tail, AS. steort; akin to LG. stert, steert, D.
staart, G. sterz, Icel. stertr, Dan. stiert, Sw. stjert. √166.
Cf. Stark naked, under Stark, Start, v. i.] 1. A tail, or anything
projecting like a tail.