From Garner's Modern English Usage: "Lexicographers and usage critics—especially American ones—have sought since the 19th century to make a distinction. … The trend, however, is to use gauntlet for all senses. … In fact, though, writers of English have never reserved gantlet for the ordeal. Instead, despite etymological faultiness in conflating two different words—gauntlet (glove) and gantlope (ordeal)—gauntlet has taken over both meanings. One is tempted to resist, as this book did in earlier editions, but empirical evidence now available shows that run the gauntlet outdistances run the gantlet by an 11-to-1 margin and has consistently done so since about 1800. The 'battle' was lost before it began."