gauntlet

1 of 2

noun (1)

gaunt·​let ˈgȯnt-lət How to pronounce gauntlet (audio)
ˈgänt-
variants or less commonly gantlet
1
: a glove worn with medieval armor to protect the hand
2
: any of various protective gloves used especially in industry
3
: an open challenge (as to combat)
used in phrases like throw down the gauntlet
4
: a dress glove extending above the wrist
gauntleted adjective

gauntlet

2 of 2

noun (2)

variants or less commonly gantlet
1
a
: a double file of men facing each other and armed with clubs or other weapons with which to strike at an individual who is made to run between them
used with run
b
: a line, series, or assemblage
especially : one that poses some sort of ordeal
a gauntlet of autograph-seekers
2
: a severe trial : ordeal
ran the gauntlet of criticism and censure

Did you know?

There’s no reason to treat the word gauntlet with kid gloves, so let’s go straight to the punch: gauntlet (which comes from the Middle French word gantelet, the diminutive of gant, meaning “glove”) first referred to the reinforced glove of a suit of armor, but today it’s mostly encountered in figurative phrases, such as “throw down the gauntlet” and “pick up the gauntlet,” that arose from the conventions of medieval combat. To challenge someone to combat, a knight would throw his glove at another knight’s feet. The second knight would pick the glove up if he intended to accept the challenge, in which case a jousting match might ensue. Accordingly, to throw down the gauntlet is to issue an open challenge, while to pick up the gauntlet is to accept one. (The gauntlet that means “severe trial,” or “ordeal,” often used in the phrase “run the gauntlet,” is an alteration of gantelope, a word that originates from Swedish gata, meaning “lane” or “way.”)

Examples of gauntlet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
But with human assistance, the reintroduction of otters could bypass the gauntlet. David Helvarg, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2024 Dorothy’s odyssey in the original production could be read as a metaphor for the Great Migration, and the film imagines late 1970s New York City as a gauntlet of urban blight. Naveen Kumar, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2024 After surviving the airport gauntlet, Porter was buying her kids snacks for the flight when the same woman found her and asked again. Benjamin Oreskes, Los Angeles Times, 2 Feb. 2024 New match types: Special guest referee, ambulance match, casket match and gauntlet match. USA TODAY, 22 Jan. 2024 Has a gauntlet of games coming up in the next two weeks against the state’s best teams that will let coach Ryan Watrous know where his young team is at. 4. Logan Stanley, The Arizona Republic, 12 Jan. 2024 The Broncos have run through the gauntlet once and earned wins over San Diego State, Colorado State, New Mexico and Nevada. Ron Counts, Idaho Statesman, 16 Feb. 2024 Despite that, the shopping-nightmare juggernaut and the seasonal celebration mash-up do still present a tempting landscape in which to reach for a glass or three of something that stands a chance of bucking you up for the run through the gauntlet. Guy Martin, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2023 The Wildcats must run the gauntlet that is the Avocado League. John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gauntlet.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Middle French gantelet, diminutive of gant glove, from Old French, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle Dutch want glove, Old Norse vǫttr

Noun (2)

altered from gantelope, apparently by assimilation to gauntlet entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1645, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of gauntlet was in the 15th century

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Dictionary Entries Near gauntlet

Cite this Entry

“Gauntlet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gauntlet. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

gauntlet

1 of 2 noun
gaunt·​let ˈgȯnt-lət How to pronounce gauntlet (audio)
ˈgänt-
1
: a protective glove worn with a suit of armor
2
: a protective glove used in industry
gauntleted adjective

gauntlet

2 of 2 noun
variants also gantlet
: a double file of men armed with weapons (as clubs) with which to strike at a person who is made to run between them

More from Merriam-Webster on gauntlet

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