Variant spelling of "run the gantlet." Spelled either way, it's pronounced
gauntlet. A gantlet is a double line of people with clubs, whips,
tomahawks, fraternity
paddles, or other weapons; the poor bastard being punished runs between the lines and everyone hits him as he goes by. Depending on weapons and circumstances, this has been used as an initiation, a test of courage, a way to decide which prisoner to let go (to take the message back that you are holding hostages), or a way to execute someone without making any one person responsible. Often used to describe what the
in-crowd does to a noob before accepting him -- "Making him run the gantlet" is a stronger, more violent expression than "making him pay some dues" or "putting him through all the hoops."
Example:
The Indians made old Zeke
run the gauntlet and when he made it through with just some cuts and a lump on his head, they let him go.
My first year on the job they made me run the gantlet, but after that I was in.
At
Kappa Kappa Kappa they make us pledges run the gauntlet for three months, and then on initiation night they make us run a real gantlet; I got through with my ass only getting about five hits, but my roommate fell down and they
flayed his pathetic ass.