/ fliːs; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ C ] the wool coat of a sheep; this coat when it has been removed from a sheep (by shearing )
—picture at sheep
2.
[ U , C ] a type of soft warm cloth that feels like sheep's wool; a jacket or sweatshirt that is made from this cloth :
a fleece lining
a bright red fleece
■ verb
[ vn ] ( informal ) to take a lot of money from sb by charging them too much :
Some local shops have been fleecing tourists.
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English flēos , flēs , of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch vlies and German Vlies .