gauntlet

¹ American  

[gawnt-lit, gahnt-] / ˈgɔnt lɪt, ˈgɑnt- /

noun

1. a medieval glove, as of mail or plate, worn by a knight in armor to protect the hand.

2. a glove with an extended cuff for the wrist.

3. the cuff itself.

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idioms

1. take up the gauntlet / glove,

   1. to accept a challenge to fight.

      He was always willing to take up the gauntlet for a good cause.

   2. to show one's defiance.

2. throw down the gauntlet / glove,

   1. to challenge.

   2. to defy.

gauntlet ² American  

[gawnt-lit, gahnt-] / ˈgɔnt lɪt, ˈgɑnt- /

noun

1. a former punishment, chiefly military, in which the offender was made to run between two rows of men who struck at him with switches or weapons as he passed.

2. the two rows of men administering this punishment.

3. an attack from two or all sides.

4. trying conditions; an ordeal.

5. gantlet.

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verb (used with object)

1. gantlet.

idioms

1. run the gauntlet, to suffer severe criticism or tribulation.

gauntlet ¹ British  

/ ˈɡɔːntlɪt /

noun

1. a punishment in which the victim is forced to run between two rows of men who strike at him as he passes: formerly a military punishment

2. 1. to suffer this punishment

   2. to endure an onslaught or ordeal, as of criticism

3. a testing ordeal; trial

4. a variant spelling of gantlet 1

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gauntlet ² British  

/ ˈɡɔːntlɪt /

noun

1. a medieval armoured leather glove

2. a heavy glove with a long cuff

3. to accept a challenge

4. to offer a challenge

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gauntlet More Idioms  

1. see run the gauntlet; throw down the gauntlet.

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Other Word Forms

• gauntleted
  adjective
• ungauntleted
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of gauntlet¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English gauntelet, gauntlet, from Old French gantelet, diminutive of gant “glove,” from Germanic want- (unrecorded); compare Old Norse vǫttr

Origin of gauntlet²

First recorded in 1670–80; alteration of gantlope

Explanation

A gauntlet is a glove covered in steel that was worn in suits of armor, but it also means punishment or, when "throwing down the gauntlet," a challenge. Gauntlet comes from the Old French word for "glove," which was thrown down as a symbol of a challenge. “Running the gauntlet” is an old military form of punishment in which the victim runs between two rows of men wearing armored gloves, who beat him as he passes through the lines. Today, if someone makes you run the gauntlet, they won’t really strike you with armored gloves, but they'll probably make you do something miserable.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

gauntlet

Certified financial planner Veronica Taylor, who works for the women-centered firm Ellevest in New York, has helped many clients through this gauntlet, and is going through it herself.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 14, 2026

“When John Oliver publicly threw down the gauntlet and said he wanted to appear on a soap, we didn’t hesitate for a second,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026

"A gauntlet of confusion, fake scarcity and impossibly high prices," according to NJ Attorney General Jennifer Davenport, chief prosecutor for the state hosting next month's final.

From BBC ● Jun. 11, 2026

The deal would combine two of the largest U.S. utilities into an East Coast energy titan with territory in Florida, the Carolinas and Virginia, and require approval from a gauntlet of state and federal regulators.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 18, 2026

Probably more than I thought—but handing each one over to my mother was like running the gauntlet of passive-aggressive pep talks.

From "Made You Up" by Francesca Zappia