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Gantlet, gant′let, Gantlope, gant′lōp, n. a punishment consisting of driving a criminal through a lane formed by two files of men, who each strike him as he passes.—Run the gantlet, to undergo the punishment of the gantlet: to be exposed to unpleasant remarks or treatment.

Gantlope was the earlier and more correct form of the word now commonly called gantlet.

The method of punishing by running the gantlope was very exactly defined in English martial law.

Similar in nature to running the gantlope, and equally cowardly and cruel, was “passing the pikes.”

Several cases are on record of running the gantlope in Virginia; and an interesting case was that of Captain Walter Gendal of Yarmouth, Maine, a brave soldier, who for the slightest evidence of a not very serious crime was sentenced to “run the gauntelope” through all the military companies in Boston with a rope around his neck.