a. and sb. [The phrase straight away (see STRAIGHT adv. 2 c) used attrib.]
A. adj. Of a shot: Aimed at a bird flying ‘straight away.’ Also said of the bird. Of a ride, a course in rowing or sailing: Continuous in direction and time.
1874. J. W. Long, Amer. Wild-fowl, i. 41. Straight-away shots they usually kill better than any others, because little or no calculation is required.
1883. Standard, 18 Jan., 3/7. Another straightaway row to Iffley was indulged in.
1889. C. Lancaster, Art of Shooting, 72. Longer shots may be made at crossing than at straight-away birds. Ibid., 75. The Straightforward Shot. This class of shot may be considered under three headings—straight-away, high straight-away, and low straight-away shots.
1894. Outing, XXIV. 175/1. It was a straight-away gallop, our horses straining every nerve and muscle to the utmost.
1898. Kipling, in Morn. Post, 5 Nov., 5/3. Once again we headed W.N.W. in company at an average speed of between thirteen and fourteen knots on a straightaway run of three hundred and fifty miles.
B. sb. (See quots.)
1895. G. J. Manson, Sporting Dict., Straightaway, a straight course without a turn for racing boats.
1909. Century Dict., Suppl., Straightaway, a race-course which is without turn or curve; also a race which is run without turning or curving.
