gantlet

¹ American  

[gant-lit, gawnt-] / ˈgænt lɪt, ˈgɔnt- /

noun

1. Railroads. a track construction used in narrow places, in which two parallel tracks converge so that their inner rails cross, run parallel, and diverge again, thus allowing a train to remain on its own track at all times.

2. gauntlet.

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verb (used with object)

1. Railroads. to form or lay down as a gantlet.

   to gantlet tracks.

gantlet ² American  

[gant-lit, gawnt-] / ˈgænt lɪt, ˈgɔnt- /

noun

1. gauntlet.

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gantlet ¹ British  

/ ˈɡæntlɪt, ˈɡɔːnt- /

noun

1. a section of a railway where two tracks overlap

2. a variant spelling of gauntlet 2

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gantlet ² British  

/ ˈɡɔːnt-, ˈɡæntlɪt /

noun

1. a variant of gauntlet 1

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Other Word Forms

• gantleted adjective

Etymology

Origin of gantlet

First recorded in 1900–05; variant of gantlope

Example Sentences

Awards season itself is its own kind of gantlet.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 15, 2026

Coming out on top requires surviving a gantlet.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026

However, as will be well familiar for those who have run the gantlet on investing in China, regulatory risks loom large.

From Barron's • Dec. 23, 2025

Visitors pass through a biosecurity gantlet at the airport, with specially trained beagles sniffing out such contraband as seeds, fruit, vegetables, meats, or honey.

From Slate • Aug. 8, 2025

Once upon a time, you ran the gantlet, but you threw down the gauntlet.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner