Agauntlet is a protective covering that is used in somegloves andmittens. A gauntlet protects thewrists and the lower part of theforearm. Gloves or mittens formotorcycle drivers,snowmobile drivers,construction workers,forestry workers, andmountain climbers often have gauntlets. The gauntlet helps to protect the wrist and forearm from cold, and from being scraped or cut if there is an accident.
The gauntlet of a glove or mitten is usually made from a material that is similar to the protectivefabric or material used elsewhere on the glove or mitten. A pair ofleather motorcycle gloves with gauntlets will usually have leather gauntlets. A pair of insulatednylon snowmobilers' mittens with gauntlets will usually have gauntlets made from insulated nylon fabric.
The word "gauntlet" is sometimes used in the followingfigure of speech: "to throw down the gauntlet." If a person says that "Fred threw down the gauntlet at the committee meeting last night", they mean that Fred issued a publicchallenge at the committee meeting.
Another figure of speech is the phrase "run the gauntlet." This means to "face a trial or test." For example, if a sailor commits an offense, his comrades may form a line, and each comrade will hit the sailor as he passes by the line. This is called "running the gauntlet."