In older texts the term gantlet was always used. It was a form of torture, punishment, or defacto execution. You get a group of people lined up on two sides, and have one guy run through it while those on his sides attack him - often with weapons. In many cases the person 'running the gantlet' would not survive.

No idea when gauntlet became practically synonymous, but I expect it's one of those linguistic evolutions along the line of "I could care less." Gauntlets were gloves! So, I like their usage!