ὕσπληξ

English (LSJ)

ηγος, ἡ (Phryn.54, etc., but ὁ CIG2824.14 (Aphrodisias), Eust.598.23), IG12.313.116, 314.129, Inscr.Perg.10.3 (iii B. C.), Pl. Phdr.254e, Eust. l. c., etc.: rarely ὕσπληγξ, ηγγος, ἡ (ὁ Hero Aut. 24.4), D.P.121, Dionys.Av.3.18; Dor. ὕσπλαγξ Theoc.8.58; gen.
A ὕσπλᾱκος IG42(1).98.2 (Epid., iii B. C.): dat. pl. ὕσπληξιν Plu.2.588f, Ep. ὑσπλήγεσσι AP6.259 (Phil.): Dor. ὑσπλᾱγίς (q.v.):—snare or gin of a bird-catcher, Theoc. l.c.; wolf-trap, Hsch.; also the part of a springe or noose trap which slips down when touched, Dionys.Av.l.c., cf. 3.13; = ῥόπτρον, Hsch.; = πάσσαλος, κρίκος κεράτινος, Id., Sch.Pl.Phdr.254e.
2 a twisted strand, the untwisting of which releases motive power in an automaton (cf. στρέβλη 1.2), Hero Aut.2.8 (also, a piece of wood made to rise or fall by this or similar means, ib.6, cf. 24.4); ψυχὴ ἀνθρώπου μυρίαις ὁρμαῖς οἷον ὕσπληξιν ἐντεταμένη Plu.2.588f; [τὸ θερμὸν] ἀθροῖσαν ἑαυτὸ καὶ οἷον συνεσπειραμένον γεγονός,.. σφοδρᾷ τῇ φορᾷ χρώμενον καὶ οἷον ἀπὸ ὕσπληγος ἐξαλλόμενον Gal.7.623; ὥσπερ ἀπὸ ὕ. ἀναπεσών throwing himself back as from a ὕ., i.e. violently, Pl.Phdr.254e; ὥσπερ ἀπὸ ὕ. θέοντες, i.e. running at top speed, Luc.Cat.4.
3 a contrivance (of uncertain nature, but prob. on the principle of ὕ. 1 or 2; = Lat. transenna, Gloss.) for starting a race, starting-machine (κυρίως τὸ μηχάνημα τὸ ἀποκροῦον τὸν κανόνα τοῦ δρομέως Sch.D.P.121; cf. σχαστηρία 1), ὕσπληγος ἀγκῶνας τρεῖς παραστάδας ὑσπλήγων τέτταρας καὶ κίονας δύο, σύριγγας τῶν ὑ. δύο, in a list of wooden objects, Inscr.Délos 1400.9 (ii B. C.), cf. 1409 Baii43 (ii B. C.); ὕσπληγα λαμπαδίειον (for the torch-race) IG11(2).203B96 (Delos, iii B. C.); ἀφέσεις τὰς ἀπὸ τῶν ὑσπλήγων τοῦ Παναθηναϊκοῦ σταδίου ib.22.1035.50 (i B. C.); ἔπεσεν ἡ ὕ. Luc.Tim.20; τῆς ὕ. εὐθὺς καταπεσούσης Id.Cal.12; ἑστᾶσιν ὥσπερ ἐφ' ὕσπληγος ἐξορμᾶν ἕτοιμοι J.BJ3.5.4 (v.l. ὑφ' ὕσπληγος); διήκει πρὸ αὐτῶν καλῴδιον ἀντὶ ὕσπληγος Paus.6.20.11; χαλῶσιν αἱ ὕ. ib.13; ἀθρόα δ' ὕσπληξ πάντα (sc. τὰ ἅρματα) διὰ στρεπτοῦ τείνα [τ' ἔ]χουσα κάλω· [ἦ] μέγ' ἐπαχήσασα θοὰς ἐξήλασε πώλους Inscr.Perg. l.c.; ψόφος ἦν ὕσπληγος ἐν οὔασιν, i.e. the race had just started, AP11.86, cf. Plu.2.804e; ἔσχαστο ἡ ὕ. Hld.4.3; ψαλιδωτὰς ἱππαφέσεις διὰ μιᾶς ὕ. ἅμα πάσας ἀνοιγομένας D.H.3.68: metaph., κἀπὸ γῆς ἐσχάζοσαν ὕσπληγας were loosing the starting-machine from land, i.e. were starting out from land, Lyc.22.
4 = καμπτήρ II, metaph., D.P.121, cf. Eust. ad loc.; ὕσπληγας ὑποφήνας τῶν κατὰ φιλοσοφίαν λόγων setting limits to... dub. in metrod.Herc.831.11.
5 part of a burial-place, perhaps gate, CIGl.c.
6 = μύωψ II.2 or μάστιξ, Herm. in Phdr.p.170A., Hsch., Suid.; = ὑστριχίς 1, Eust.ad D.P.121 (deriving it from ὗς and πλήσσω).

French (Bailly abrégé)

ηγος (ἡ) :
c. ὕσπληγξ.

Wikipedia

Hysplex (Greek: ὕσπληξ) is a starting gate used in ancient Greek horse and foot races. This device was set up at the starting line and consisted of an upright vertical bar that held a horizontal gate attached to it held up by a string. Each racer stood behind his own hysplex and all of the strings were centrally connected behind the runners, held by a referee. At the start of the race, the referee let go of all the strings; and consequently the starting gates fell at the same time, releasing the runners.

Frisk Etymology German

ὕσπληξ: -ηγος
{húsplēks}
Forms: dor. (Epid.) -ακος, auch (selten) -ηγξ, -ηγγος, dor. (Theok.) -αγξ
Grammar: f. (m.)
Meaning: auslösende Vorrichtung zum Entlassen der Wettläufer, zum Fangen von Vögeln und Tieren (att. Inschr. [Ende V^a], Pl. Phdr. 254e, hell. u. sp.), Aussehen (Schlinge? Stellholz? Seil?) unbekannt.
Etymology : Deswegen schwebt eigentlich die Etymologie in der Luft. Seit langem (Curtius 277 u. 228) in ὕσπληξ zerlegt, zu πλήσσω und ὑσ- in ὕστερος (s.d. m. Weiterem); somit eig. *"der Emporschläger" ? Eher mit Jüthner Die Antike 15, 251 vorgriechisch.
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English (Woodhouse)

starting point in a race

German (Pape)

ηγος, ἡ, = ὕσπληγξ; Plat. Phaedr. 254e; Lobeck zu Phryn. 71 spricht diese Form den Attikern ganz ab.