βαλβίς,ῖδος,ἡ, prop.
A. rope drawn across the race-course at the starting and finishing-point:mostly in pl.,posts to which this rope was attached,
Ar. Eq. 1159 : so in sg.,turning-post,
νῆσος β. ξεστῇ εἴκασται
Philostr. VA 5.5
: also,platform from which the quoit was thrown,
Id. Im. 1.24 : hence,any starting-point,
Antipho Soph. 69 ; βαλβίδων ἄπο
E. HF 867
, cf. Ar. V. 548 : metaph., ἕρπε πρὸς βαλβῖδα λυπηρὰν βίου
E. Med. 1245
; ἐκ β. εἰς τέρμα
Them. Or. 13.177d
; β. λόγου βέβληται
Philostr. VS 2.20.3