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Gauntlet vs Challenge - What's the difference?

gauntlet | challenge |

As a noun gauntlet

is protective armor for the hands or gauntlet can be (archaic) two parallel rows of attackers who strike at a criminal as punishment.

As a verb challenge is

.

gauntlet

Alternative forms

* gantlet

Etymology 1

(etyl) "glove", also gantelet, from (etyl)

Noun

(en noun)
  • Protective armor for the hands.
  • * 1786 , Francis Grose, A Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons , page 22:
  • The hands were defended by Gauntlets, these were sometimes of chain mail, but oftener of small plates of iron rivetted together, in imitation of the lobster's tail, so as to yield every motion of the hand, some gauntlets inclosed the whole hand, as in a box or case, others were divided into fingers, each finger consisting of eight or ten separate pieces, the inside gloved with buff leather, some of these reached no higher than the wrist, others to the elbow; the latter were stiled long armed gauntlets: many of them are to be seen in the Tower; for a representation of one of them, see plate 26, fig 6.
  • (nautical) A rope on which hammocks or clothes are hung for drying.
  • Derived terms
    * to take up the gauntlet * to throw down the gauntlet

    See also

    *

    Etymology 2

    From (gantlope), from (etyl)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (archaic) Two parallel rows of attackers who strike at a criminal as punishment
  • Simultaneous attack from two or more sides
  • (figuratively) Any challenging, difficult, or painful ordeal, often one performed for atonement or punishment
  • (rail) A temporary convergence of two parallel railroad tracks allowing passage through a narrow opening in each direction without switching.
  • Derived terms
    * running the gauntlet

    challenge

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A confrontation; a dare.
  • # An instigation or antagonization intended to convince a person to perform an action they otherwise would not.
  • #*{{quote-magazine, date=2013-11-30, volume=409, issue=8864, magazine=(The Economist), author=Paul Davis
  • , title= Letters: Say it as simply as possible , passage=Congratulations on managing to use the phrase “preponderant criterion” in a chart (“ On your marks”, November 9th). Was this the work of a kakorrhaphiophobic journalist set a challenge by his colleagues, or simply an example of glossolalia?}}
  • # A bid to overcome something.
  • #* {{quote-news, year=2012, date=May 5, author=Phil McNulty, work=BBC Sport
  • , title= Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool , passage=For Liverpool, their season will now be regarded as a relative disappointment after failure to add the FA Cup to the Carling Cup and not mounting a challenge to reach the Champions League places.}}
  • # (sports) An attempt to take possession; a tackle
  • #* {{quote-news, year=2011, date=October 1, author=Saj Chowdhury, work=BBC Sport
  • , title= Wolverhampton 1-2 Newcastle , passage=Argentine midfielder Jonas Gutierrez added a superb second when he surged past four challenges to fire in low.}}
  • # A summons to fight a duel; also, the letter or message conveying the summons.
  • # The act of a sentry in halting a person and demanding the countersign, or (by extension) the action of a computer system demanding a password, etc.
  • A difficult task, especially one that the person making the attempt finds more enjoyable because of that difficulty.
  • (label) A procedure or action.
  • # (legal, rare) A judge's interest in the result of the case for which he or she should not be allowed to sit the case, e.g. a conflict of interest.
  • # The act of appealing a ruling or decision of a court of administrative agency.
  • # The act of seeking to remove a judge, arbitrator or other judicial or semi-judicial figure for reasons of alleged bias or incapacity.
  • # (label) An exception to a person as not legally qualified to vote. The challenge must be made when the ballot is offered.
  • (label) The opening and crying of hounds at first finding the scent of their game.
  • Verb

    (challeng)
  • To invite someone to take part in a competition.
  • * (William Shakespeare) (1564-1616)
  • By this I challenge him to single fight.
  • To dare someone.
  • * (John Locke) (1632-1705)
  • I challenge any man to make any pretence to power by right of fatherhood.
  • To dispute something.
  • (label) To make a formal objection to a juror.
  • (label) To claim as due; to demand as a right.
  • * (Joseph Addison) (1672-1719)
  • Challenge better terms.
  • (label) To censure; to blame.
  • * Holland
  • He complained of the emperorfrom them.
  • (label) To question or demand the countersign from (one who attempts to pass the lines).
  • (label) To object to the reception of the vote of, e.g. on the ground that the person is not qualified as a voter.
  • Synonyms

    *