a metal glove worn as part of a suit of armour by soldiers in the Middle Ages （中世纪武士铠甲的）金属手套，铁手套 a strong glove that covers and protects the hand and wrist, used for example when driving （驾驶等用的）长手套，防护手套 motorcyclists with leather gauntlets 戴着皮护手套的摩托车手
Word Originsenses 1 to 2 and take up/throw down the gauntlet. late Middle English: from Old French gantelet, diminutive of gant ‘glove’, of Germanic origin. run the gauntlet. mid 17th cent.: alteration of gantlope (from Swedish gatlopp, from gata ‘lane’ + lopp ‘course’) by association with gauntlet ‘glove’.
Idioms
run the gauntlet
take up the gauntlet
to accept somebody’s invitation to fight or compete 接受挑战；应战 His Republican rival may be expected to take up the gauntlet. 据猜测，他的共和党竞争对手可能会接受挑战。
throw down the gauntlet
to invite somebody to fight or compete with you 发出挑战 She has thrown down the gauntlet to the newspaper by accusing it of libel. 她向那家报社发出挑战，控告他们诽谤。