outstart

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   rare: the beginning or outset

   The impostors found themselves trapped from the outstart of the questioning.

2. 2
   verb

   rare or obsolete: to spring out or start forth

   At the sudden noise, beads of sweat outstarted on his forehead.

3. 3
   verb

   to get ahead of someone or something at the start

   The lighter boat outstarted its rival before the wind weakened.

The noun combines out + start after the phrase start out and means 'outset.' The verb has separately meant 'spring out' and 'get the start of.' Twain uses the rare noun.

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