noun
gauntlet
GAWNT-lut/ˈɡɔːntlət/
A protective glove worn as armor or for heavy work.
The steel gauntlet protects the hand with overlapping plates and a broad wrist cuff.
Etymology
The glove word gant gained a diminutive ending, but the resulting word named the glove worn with a knight’s armor. That armored use underlies its protective sense.
In context
one was a dark red scale gauntlet and the other was a silver spear reeved in wind and Thunder he instinctively wanted the gauntlet since he was going for a defensive build
More examples
- The knight's steel gauntlet protects his fingers without preventing movement.
- These sturdy gauntlets keep thorns from scratching my hands and wrists.
- He replaces a worn gauntlet before handling the rough metal.
Forms
gauntlet · gauntlets
Similar words
- glove
- A broader term that also includes light, nonprotective hand coverings.
- work glove
- Specifically protects hands during manual labor, rather than in battle.