Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » gantlet

gantlet

(gônt′lit, gänt′-, gant′-)

noun

1. a former military punishment in which the offender had to run between two rows of men who struck him with clubs, etc. as he passed
2. a series of troubles or difficulties: in these senses, now spelled equally gauntlet
a section of railroad track through a narrow passage where two lines of track overlap, one rail of each line being within the rails of the other

Origin: earlier gantlope < Swed gatlopp, a running down a lane < gata, lane (akin to Ger gasse: see gait) + lopp, a run, akin to leap

transitive verb

to overlap (railroad tracks) so as to make a gantlet

noun

gauntlet

See gantlet in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A section of double railroad tracks formed by the temporary convergence of two parallel tracks in such a way that each set remains independent while traversing the same ground, affording passage at a narrow place without need of switching.

transitive verb gant·let·ed, gant·let·ing, gant·lets

To converge (railroad tracks) to form a gantlet.

Origin:

Origin: Variant of gauntlet²

noun

Variant of gauntlet¹.

noun

Variant of gauntlet².

Learn more about gantlet

gantlet phrase meanings

link/cite print suggestion box