A low column, the starting-point, and the turn.[1]
"Just like those driving four-horse chariots despatched from some starting-post, once the gate had been opened."[2]
Also[3] [sc. attested is the phrase] "at [the] starting-posts", meaning at the beginnings. It is an expression taken from racers. For the line created under the starting-gate, is called a starting-post, because the runners take a stand on it. From the [verb] ἅλλομαι ["I leap"] [comes the noun] ἁλμίς , [which becomes] ἁλβίς , and by transposition βαλβίς . Alernatively, from the [verb] βαίνω ["I go"].