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Gauntlet

2 stages from Old French to English.

Today it means a protective glove, especially as part of armor, or an ordeal to endure
1
Stage 1 of 2
gantelet
Old French · medieval
"a small armored glove"
a small diminutive of gant (glove), an armored glove worn by knights
2
Stage 2 of 2
gauntlet
English · 1400s
"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
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