ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Gauntlet

Definition, Meaning & Examples

Pronunciation /ˈɡɔːnt.lət/ · Part of speech noun

Quick meaning: Gauntlet is a noun meaning Protective armor for the hands, formerly thrown down as a challenge to combat.

Meaning

Protective armor for the hands, formerly thrown down as a challenge to combat.

More Meanings

  1. A long glove covering the wrist.
  2. (nautical) A rope on which hammocks or clothes are hung for drying.
  3. (medicine) An eruption of pellagra on the hands.
  4. A simultaneous attack from two or more sides.
  5. (figuratively) Any challenging, difficult, or painful ordeal, often one performed for atonement or punishment.
  6. (video games) A fight against swarms of relatively minor enemies in the form of multiple waves, often but not always preceding a boss.
  7. (archaic) Two parallel rows of attackers who strike at a criminal as punishment.

Example Sentences

[John] Winthrop ran the gantlet of daily slights from his neighbors.
The hawk no longer darts forth from the gauntlet to soar through the air for his prey.
Solventproof rubber gauntlets under solventproof sleeves closed at the wrists should be worn.

Word Forms

Synonyms for gauntlet

Depending on context, synonyms include gauntlets.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include glove, noose, clamp, vise, stranglehold, grip.

Related Dictionary Tools

Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.