51Թ

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gauntlet

1

[gawnt-lit, gahnt-]

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.



gauntlet

2

[gawnt-lit, gahnt-]

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.

verb (used with object)

  1. gantlet.

gauntlet

1

/ ˈɡɔːԳٱɪ /

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

    1. to suffer this punishment

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

  2. a testing ordeal; trial

  3. a variant spelling of gantlet 1

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

gauntlet

2

/ ˈɡɔːԳٱɪ /

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

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • gauntleted adjective
  • ungauntleted adjective
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51Թ History and Origins

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 ǫٳٰ

Origin of gauntlet2

First recorded in 1670–80; alteration of gantlope
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of gauntlet1

C15: changed (through influence of gauntlet 1 ) from earlier gantlope; see gantlet 1

Origin of gauntlet2

C15: from Old French gantelet, diminutive of gant glove, of Germanic origin
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Idioms and Phrases

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.

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

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Neither team survived the regional and super regional gauntlet to be one of the last eight teams standing.

From

The pole fight always looked to be between the McLarens and Verstappen, and the Red Bull driver laid down the gauntlet with the fastest time on the first runs in final qualifying.

From

"And it's so amazing when a peer throws the gauntlet down like that. We've gotta pick it up and I've spoken to a lot of peers who all had the same feeling."

From

Then top theater lobbyist Michael O’Leary threw down an unexpected gauntlet.

From

When Scott wrote those first three scripts, it was like gauntlet thrown down.

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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