gauntlet

Where does the word "gauntlet" come from? It comes from Old French gantelet, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).

Gauntlet’s story begins in Old French: gantelet meant “a small armored glove.” A small diminutive of gant (glove), an armored glove worn by knights. It reached English by 1400s as gauntlet. Settled as the English word for the armored glove, later a phrase for issuing a challenge. Today, gauntlet means a protective glove, especially as part of armor, or an ordeal to endure.

1. Stage 1 · Old French · medieval gantelet "a small armored glove", a small diminutive of gant (glove), an armored glove worn by knights.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1400s gauntlet "an armored glove, especially one thrown down as a challenge", settled as the English word for the armored glove, later a phrase for issuing a challenge.