gauntlet

from The Century Dictionary.

• noun Same as gantlet, 1.
• noun A glove; specifically, in medieval armor, a glove of defense, either attached to the defensive armor of the arm or separate from it.
• noun A long stout glove, usually for use in riding or driving. As ordinarily worn, it covers loosely the lower part of the arm.
• noun In a restricted sense, the wrist-cover or cuff alone of a glove.
• noun A mitt.
• noun In surgery, a form of bandage which envelops the hand and fingers like a glove.
• noun Hence, in general — To challenge; invite opposition with the view of overcoming it.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

• noun (Mil.) See gantlet.
• noun A glove of such material that it defends the hand from wounds.
• noun A long glove, covering the wrist.
• noun (Naut.) A rope on which hammocks or clothes are hung for drying.
• noun to accept a challenge.
• noun to offer or send a challenge. The gauntlet or glove was thrown down by the knight challenging, and was taken up by the one who accepted the challenge; -- hence the phrases.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

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

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

• noun to offer or accept a challenge
• noun a glove of armored leather; protects the hand
• noun a form of punishment in which a person is forced to run between two lines of men facing each other and armed with clubs or whips to beat the victim
• noun a glove with long sleeve