gaunt ‧ let /ˈɡɔːntlət, ˈɡɔːntlɪt $ ˈɡɒːnt-/ BrE AmE noun
[ Sense 1-2, 4-5: Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: French ; Origin: gantelet , from gant 'glove' ]
[ Sense 3: Date: 1600-1700 ; Language: Swedish ; Origin: gatlopp , from Old Swedish gata 'way, road' + lop 'course, run' ]
1 . throw down the gauntlet to invite someone to fight or compete over a disagreement
2 . pick up/take up the gauntlet to accept the invitation to fight or compete over a disagreement
3 . run the gauntlet to be criticized or attacked by a lot of people:
The foreign secretary ran the gauntlet of demonstrators.
4 . [countable] a long ↑ glove that covers someone’s wrist and protects their hand, for example in a factory
5 . [countable] a ↑ glove covered in metal, used for protection by soldiers in the past