Gauntlet

(grunt'lt.) [Fr. gantelet-gant, a glove.] Formerly, a metallic glove or hand-covering, forming part of a suit of armor; it was sometimes made of strong buff leather, plated on the back of the hand and digits with plates of polished iron. It was in days of chivalry the custom when challenging an enemy to mortal combat to fling down the G. as a cartel of defiance, which, when taken up by the challenged party, implied acceptance of that appeal to arms. [s. 398]