Michael Butler wrote in part:
>
> Gauntlet is the correct English spelling. Gantlet is
> the American variation spelling. Both are allowed ....
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> Comes from an early Swedish word GATLOPP courtesy of
> the Vikings (as near as we get yo cycling on this
> one)invasions of the British Isles. Gata = lane lopp=
> course.
> Or from the French GANTELET via another invasion of
> the British isles by the Normans (another wonderful
> bike).
> Finally could come from another Germanic word GANT
> courtesy of the Anglo Saxons coming to Britain. Gant
> old middle English word for glove.
> Funny another British bike Saxon named after another
> invasion.
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I don´t think the Anglo-Saxons had to go to Sweden for it, they used
the practice themselves (Scandinavia and Anglo-Saxon England being very
close linguistically and culturally). Gata=lane was "geat" in
Anglo-Saxon with the plural "gatu" (which is sing. genitiv in Swedish).
Gatu could easily develop to "gaut" developing to "gaunt" with a streak
of nasalisation.
Was used in medieval Sweden for e.g. adultery and abolished for non-military offences 1734, for military 1812.
But - and this is the bicycling content - it was once again introduced in 1768 for "getting a metall manufacturing worker or a smith to leave the country".
You´ve got to take care of your KOFs!
reluctantly
Olof Stroh Uppsala Sweden (home of smiths and bike manufature, like Crescent)