Kit Gloves Or Kid Gloves?

These two terms are often mixed up because of the slight difference in their spelling.

The term 'kid gloves' is an expression which means that something is being handled, or will need to be handled, carefully. The phrase comes from the early 1800s where a physical glove was made from young lamb or goat's skin and had a very fine soft touch to them as opposed to other gloves that were made from strong leathers. It became a symbol of soft elegance and then the term 'handle with kid gloves' derived from it, meaning that you need to be very gentle in a certain situation. In the 1800s it was also a term that was used to describe an individual as dainty and upper class, who never partook in manual work. The phrase 'the gloves are coming off' derived from this initial saying which means that someone is acting in a harsh and blunt way towards another person.

While the term 'kid gloves' is used as an expression, the term 'kit gloves' refers to physical gloves. They are used when carrying out repair work and are offered supplied within kits that include other tools to help repair any physical damages. They are often made with fine cloth which aims to keep human oil of the parts that need to be repaired. Others are sometimes made of latex or vinyl which allows the hands to work intricately but prevents contact from any human oils that may contaminate the substances you are working on.

Kid gloves actually refers to what the gloves themselves were made out of. They were made out of kid skin; which is the skin of a young goat or lamb. These gloves were softer and finer than ones made out of harder leathers from adult animals and thus became a symbol of gentility and refinement. To "wear kid gloves" means the person is genteel or dainty and above the menial work of the lower class. Likewise, to "handle a person with kid gloves" is to treat them gentle like they are fragile or upper class.

I have no proof, but always assumed that the work "kid" referred to leather from a young goat or kid, and was therefor soft leather. Could be out to lunch on this one.
Ken

There is no doubt, for young boys and girls boxing can be very rewarding for a number of reasons.

They can plan and set goals for future, even if they don’t plan to go into boxing or combat sports as a profession.

Kid gloves refers to making gloves from a baby goat... Kit gloves refers to making gloves from a young fox as they were called a kit... Either way is fine, but most people use the term Kid gloves.

The term is "kit" gloves. It's the original saying and came from England. Of course we here in the good old USA have changed it and adopted it as "kid" because we didn't know the original meaning and now people cite each other as experts on the subject, all the while showing how little they really know.