“Bute vi’ e’ capel”
(Throw away the hat)
It was a very decisive gesture of defiance when the challenger would throw his hat to the ground between himself and the antagonist, inviting him to cross it. If that were to happen, an inevitable brawl would ensue. Otherwise, the challenger had to accept being accused of cowardice, which would have haunted him forever or at least until an opportunity to gain honourable respect came along. That represented the ‘gauntlet’ at a popular level.