Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Mitten \Mit"ten\, n. [OE. mitaine, meteyn, F. mitaine, perh. of
   Celtic origin; cf. Ir. miotog, Gael. miotag, Ir. & Gael.
   mutan a muff, a thick glove. Cf. {Mitt}.]
   1. A covering for the hand, worn to defend it from cold or
      injury. It differs from a glove in not having a separate
      sheath for each finger. --Chaucer.

   2. A cover for the wrist and forearm.

   {To give the mitten to}, to dismiss as a lover; to reject the
      suit of. [Colloq.]

   {To handle without mittens}, to treat roughly; to handle
      without gloves. [Colloq.]