Meaning

noun a demanding or stimulating situation

noun a call to engage in a contest or fight

noun questioning a statement and demanding an explanation

originFrom Middle English chalenge, variant with palatalization of Middle English kalange (“an accusation, claim”), from Old French chalenge, chalonge, palatalized Central French variants of Old Northern French calenge, calonge (see Continental Norman calengier), from Latin calumnia (“a false accusation, calumny”). Cognate with Old English hōl (“calumny”). Doublet of calumny.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0