To challenge someone or dare them to do something, often in a somewhat aggressive way.
From archaic or dialectal English, possibly related to 'gaunt' or 'vaunt' but the exact origin is uncertain. It may derive from Scandinavian roots meaning 'to mock' or 'to jeer at' someone.
This is such a rare word that most modern speakers have completely forgotten it, even though it perfectly captures that schoolyard challenge energy—you might say 'I gant you to do it!' but nobody would understand you anymore!
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