βαλβίς

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; βιβλίου AP 4.3b.75 (Agath.); but, edge, ib.39.

II. since the starting-point was also the goal, βαλβῖδες was used for any point to be gained, as the battlements (by one scaling a wall), S. Ant. 131 (lyr.), cf. Lyc. 287, Opp. C. 1.513.

III. = κοιλότης παραμήκης, Gal. 19.87; v. foreg.