Gānt'let or Gānt'lōpe, n.

n. [Gantlet, for gauntlet, an iron glove, corrupted from gantlope; gantlope, for gatelôpe, Ger. gassenlaufen, equivalent to spiessruthenlaufen, from L. Ger. gate, H. Ger. gasse, a little street, lane, and L. Ger. lopen, H. Ger. laufen, to run. See GATE.] A military punishment inflicted on criminals for some heinous offense. The offender is made to run between two files of men facing one another, who strike him as he passes.

To run the gantlet, to suffer the punishment of the gantlet; hence, to go through severe criticism or controversy, or ill treatment.

Winthrop ran the gantlet of daily slights from his neighbors. Palfrey.

Written also, but less properly, gauntlet.