Glove vs. Gauntlet — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Updated on March 11, 2024
Gloves are designed for warmth and dexterity, often made of soft materials, whereas gauntlets are armored gloves used for protection in combat.
Difference Between Glove and Gauntlet
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Gloves are typically made from materials like leather, cloth, or synthetic fabrics, designed to offer comfort, warmth, and improved grip. They cover the hand and have separate sections for each finger. Whereas gauntlets, often made of leather or metal, extend beyond the wrist and are primarily used for protection in combat situations or as part of historical or ceremonial attire.
Gloves are common in everyday use, found in various forms such as winter gloves, driving gloves, and work gloves, focusing on functionality and dexterity. On the other hand, gauntlets are more specialized, serving as protective gear in industries like welding, motorcycle riding, and in historical reenactments or as part of military uniforms.
While gloves may offer some level of protection against environmental elements, such as cold or minor abrasions, gauntlets are designed to provide a higher degree of protection against potential hazards, including cuts, burns, and impacts.
Gloves are often chosen for their aesthetic appeal in addition to their practicality, available in a wide range of styles, colors, and materials to complement various outfits. In contrast, gauntlets are typically selected for their protective qualities and historical significance, with less emphasis on fashion.
Despite their differences, both gloves and gauntlets serve to cover and protect the hands, each adapted to specific needs and situations, from daily tasks to specialized protection in hazardous environments.
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Comparison Chart
Purpose
Warmth, dexterity, grip
Protection, especially in combat
Material
Leather, cloth, synthetics
Leather, metal, heavy fabrics
Coverage
Hands and fingers
Hands, fingers, and often part of the arm
Use Case
Daily wear, specific activities
Combat, certain professions, ceremonial
Design Focus
Comfort, functionality
Protection, durability
Compare with Definitions
Glove
Warmth.
She wore woolen gloves to keep her hands warm in winter.
Gauntlet
Motorcycle Riding.
Motorcycle riders wear gauntlets to protect their hands and wrists during rides.
Glove
Fashion.
He chose leather gloves to complement his winter coat.
Gauntlet
Ceremonial Uniforms.
Military honor guards may wear ceremonial gauntlets as part of their dress uniform.
Glove
Dexterity.
The surgeon used latex gloves for better dexterity during the operation.
Gauntlet
Combat Protection.
Medieval knights wore metal gauntlets for hand protection during battles.
Glove
Sport.
Baseball players wear gloves for catching the ball more effectively.
Gauntlet
Welding.
He put on heavy leather gauntlets to protect his hands and forearms from sparks while welding.
Glove
Safety.
Electricians wear rubber gloves as a safety measure against electrical shocks.
Gauntlet
Historical Reenactments.
Participants in historical reenactments often wear gauntlets as part of their armor.
Glove
A glove is a garment covering the hand. Gloves usually have separate sheaths or openings for each finger and the thumb.
Gauntlet
A strong glove with a long, loose wrist.
Glove
A close-fitting covering for the hand with a separate sheath for each finger and the thumb, worn especially as protection from the cold.
Gauntlet
Go through an intimidating or dangerous crowd or experience in order to reach a goal
She had to run the gauntlet of male autograph seekers
Glove
A gauntlet.
Gauntlet
Undergo the military punishment of receiving blows while running between two rows of men with sticks.
Glove
An oversized leather glove used for catching baseballs, especially one with more finger sheaths than the catcher's or first baseman's mitt.
Gauntlet
A protective glove, usually extending over some of the forearm, worn as part of medieval armor.
Glove
A glove made of leather and fabric having padding on the back and extending over the wrist, used in hockey and lacrosse.
Gauntlet
Any of various protective gloves, usually with an extended or flared cuff, as used in certain sports such as fencing and motorcycle riding, in cooking to handle hot objects, and other activities.
Glove
A boxing glove.
Gauntlet
A challenge
Throw down the gauntlet.
Take up the gauntlet.
Glove
A close-fitting glove used to improve the grip, as in batting or in golf.
Gauntlet
A dress glove cuffed above the wrist.
Glove
(Baseball) Fielding ability
A shortstop with a good glove.
Gauntlet
A form of punishment or torture in which people armed with sticks or other weapons arrange themselves in two lines facing each other and beat the person forced to run between them.
Glove
To furnish with gloves.
Gauntlet
The lines of people so arranged.
Glove
To cover with or as if with a glove.
Gauntlet
An arrangement of two lines of menacing or demanding people or things through which one must pass
Moved through a gauntlet of shouting reporters.
Glove
To don gloves, as before performing an operation on a patient.
Gauntlet
A series of difficult or trying experiences
Survived the gauntlet of adolescent humiliations.
Glove
An item of clothing, covering all or part of the hand and fingers, but usually allowing independent movement of the fingers.
I wore gloves to keep my hands warm.
The boxing champ laced on his gloves before the big bout.
Gauntlet
Protective armor for the hands, formerly thrown down as a challenge to combat.
Glove
A baseball mitt.
Gauntlet
A long glove covering the wrist.
Glove
The ability to catch a hit ball.
Frederico had a great glove, but he couldn't hit a curveball, so he never broke into the pros.
Gauntlet
(nautical) A rope on which hammocks or clothes are hung for drying.
Glove
(slang) A condom.
Gauntlet
(archaic) Two parallel rows of attackers who strike at a criminal as punishment.
Glove
(with definite article) A challenge from one to another.
To throw down the glove, i.e. to offer a challenge; to take up the glove, to accept it
Gauntlet
A simultaneous attack from two or more sides.
Glove
To catch the ball in a baseball mitt.
He gloved the line drive for the third out.
Gauntlet
(figuratively) Any challenging, difficult, or painful ordeal, often one performed for atonement or punishment.
Glove
(transitive) To put a glove or gloves on.
Maxwell gloved his hand so that he wouldn't leave fingerprints, then pulled the trigger.
Gauntlet
(rail transport) A temporary convergence of two parallel railroad tracks allowing passage through a narrow opening in each direction without switching.
Glove
(cricket) To touch a delivery with one's glove while the gloved hand is on the bat. Under the rules of cricket, the batsman is deemed to have hit the ball.
Gauntlet
See Gantlet.
Glove
A cover for the hand, or for the hand and wrist, with a separate sheath for each finger. The latter characteristic distinguishes the glove from the mitten.
Gauntlet
A glove of such material that it defends the hand from wounds.
Glove
A boxing glove.
Gauntlet
A long glove, covering the wrist.
Glove
To cover with, or as with, a glove.
Gauntlet
A rope on which hammocks or clothes are hung for drying.
Glove
Gloves worn by fielders in baseball
Gauntlet
To offer or accept a challenge;
Threw down the gauntlet
Took up the gauntlet
Glove
Handwear: covers the hand and wrist
Gauntlet
A glove of armored leather; protects the hand
Glove
Gloves that are big and padded; worn for boxing
Gauntlet
A glove with long sleeve
Gauntlet
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
Common Curiosities
What are gloves?
Gloves are hand coverings designed for warmth, dexterity, and protection, made from various materials like leather, cloth, or synthetics.
Are gauntlets still used today?
Yes, gauntlets are used in industries like welding, motorcycle riding, and for historical reenactments or ceremonies.
Are there different types of gloves for specific activities?
Yes, there are various types of gloves, such as winter gloves, driving gloves, and work gloves, each designed for specific purposes.
Do gloves always have separate fingers?
Yes, gloves typically have separate sections for each finger to provide dexterity.
Are welding gauntlets made of a special material?
Welding gauntlets are usually made of heavy leather or materials resistant to heat and sparks.
What are gauntlets?
Gauntlets are a type of armored glove that extends beyond the wrist, used for protection in combat and certain professions.
Can gloves be a fashion statement?
Absolutely, gloves can be chosen for their style and are available in various designs to complement different outfits.
Can gloves be used for protection?
Yes, gloves can offer protection against cold, minor abrasions, and in specific jobs like electrical work.
What materials are gauntlets made of?
Gauntlets can be made of leather, metal, or other heavy materials for maximum protection.
Do gauntlets offer more protection than gloves?
Yes, gauntlets are designed to offer a higher degree of protection, especially against cuts, burns, and impacts.
Can gloves be used in sports?
Yes, gloves are used in many sports for better grip and protection, such as in baseball or golf.
Is there a difference in the coverage area between gloves and gauntlets?
Yes, while gloves cover the hands and fingers, gauntlets also protect part of the arm.
How do gauntlets protect in combat?
Gauntlets protect the hands and part of the arm from weapons, impacts, and other hazards during combat.
Can gloves be used for safety in professional settings?
Yes, gloves are used in various professions for safety against hazards like chemicals, electricity, and cuts.
Why might someone wear gauntlets for motorcycle riding?
Motorcycle riders wear gauntlets to protect their hands and wrists from injury and the elements.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
