GAUNTLET

See Gantlet.

A glove of such material that it defends the hand from wounds.

A long glove, covering the wrist.

A rope on which hammocks or clothes are hung for drying. To take up the gauntlet, to accept a challenge. -- To throw down the gauntlet, to offer or send a challenge. The gauntlet or glove was thrown down by the knight challenging, and was taken up by the one who accepted the challenge; -- hence the phrases.