The Collaborative International Dictionary
Starting hole
Starting \Start"ing\ (st[aum]rt"[i^]ng), a. & n. from Start, v.
Starting bar (Steam Eng.), a hand lever for working the valves in starting an engine.
Starting hole, a loophole; evasion. [Obs.]
Starting point, the point from which motion begins, or from which anything starts.
Starting post, a post, stake, barrier, or place from which competitors in a race start, or begin the race.
Wiktionary
starting hole
n. (context dated English) A loophole; evasion.