Chapter Starkly to Starwort of S by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

3. To set out; to commence a course, as a race or journey; to begin; as, to start business.

At once they start, advancing in a line.

Dryden.

At intervals some bird from out the brakes
Starts into voice a moment, then is still.

Byron.

4. To become somewhat displaced or loosened; as, a rivet or a seam may start under strain or pressure.

To start after, to set out after; to follow; to pursue. — To start against, to act as a rival candidate against. — To start for, to be a candidate for, as an office. — To start up, to rise suddenly, as from a seat or couch; to come suddenly into notice or importance.

Start
(Start) v. t.

1. To cause to move suddenly; to disturb suddenly; to startle; to alarm; to rouse; to cause to flee or fly; as, the hounds started a fox.

Upon malicious bravery dost thou come
To start my quiet?

Shak.

Brutus will start a spirit as soon as Cæsar.

Shak.

2. To bring onto being or into view; to originate; to invent.

Sensual men agree in the pursuit of every pleasure they can start.

Sir W. Temple.

3. To cause to move or act; to set going, running, or flowing; as, to start a railway train; to start a mill; to start a stream of water; to start a rumor; to start a business.

I was engaged in conversation upon a subject which the people love to start in discourse.

Addison.

4. To move suddenly from its place or position; to displace or loosen; to dislocate; as, to start a bone; the storm started the bolts in the vessel.

One, by a fall in wrestling, started the end of the clavicle from the sternum.

Wiseman.

5. [Perh. from D. storten, which has this meaning also.] (Naut.) To pour out; to empty; to tap and begin drawing from; as, to start a water cask.

Start
(Start), n.

1. The act of starting; a sudden spring, leap, or motion, caused by surprise, fear, pain, or the like; any sudden motion, or beginning of motion.

The fright awakened Arcite with a start.

Dryden.

2. A convulsive motion, twitch, or spasm; a spasmodic effort.

For she did speak in starts distractedly.

Shak.

Nature does nothing by starts and leaps, or in a hurry.

L'Estrange.

3. A sudden, unexpected movement; a sudden and capricious impulse; a sally; as, starts of fancy.

To check the starts and sallies of the soul.

Addison.