Advertisement

Advertisement

flannel

[flan-l]

noun

  1. a soft, slightly napped fabric of wool or wool and another fiber, used for trousers, jackets, shirts, etc.

  2. a soft, warm, light fabric of cotton or cotton and another fiber, thickly napped on one side and used for sleepwear, undergarments, sheets, etc.

  3. flannels,

    1. an outer garment, especially trousers, made of flannel.

    2. woolen undergarments.

  4. British.

    1. a washcloth.

    2. Informal.nonsense; humbug; empty talk.

    3. Informal.flattery; insincere or overdone praise.



verb (used with object)

flanneled, flanneling , flannelled, flannelling .
  1. to cover or clothe with flannel.

  2. to rub with flannel.

flannel

/ ˈڱæə /

noun

  1. a soft light woollen fabric with a slight nap, used for clothing

  2. (plural) trousers or other garments made of flannel

  3. See cotton flannel

  4. US and Canadian equivalent: washcloth.a small piece of cloth used to wash the face and hands; face cloth

  5. informalindirect or evasive talk; deceiving flattery

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to cover or wrap with flannel

  2. to rub, clean, or polish with flannel

  3. informalto talk evasively to; flatter in order to mislead

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Other Word Forms

  • ˈڱԲԱ adjective
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of flannel1

1300–50; Middle English flaunneol, perhaps dissimilated variant of flanyn sackcloth < Welsh; compare Welsh gwlanen woolen article, equivalent to ɱâ wool (akin to Latin Բ ) + -en suffix denoting a single item (as a piece of a mass noun or singular of a collective plural)
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of flannel1

C14: probably variant of flanen sackcloth, from Welsh gwlanen woollen fabric, from ɱâ wool
Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Armed with a handful of songs, the Pendletones — named for the then-popular flannel shirts — began to play at school dances and parties.

From

Kayleigh's tried cocktails of different medications, putting her feet in hot water, a flannel at the back of the head, acupuncture, cupping - but they've had little effect.

From

An agent in plain clothes in the courtroom came out to signal to agents in the hallway, one wearing a red flannel shirt, when an immigrant subject to detainment was about to exit.

From

Smith: The inspiration for my outfit were the Compton Cowboys, so I wanted to do the flannel, I’ve got the cargos, the Margiela work boots and the cowboy hat.

From

At the same time, the middle managers, the men in the gray flannel suits, on occasion they got doses of rhetoric that the Cultural Revolution would've been proud of.

From

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


flank speedflannelboard