n. & v.
n. 1 a a kind of woven woollen fabric, usu. without a nap. b (in pl.) flannel garments, esp. trousers. 2 Brit. a small usu. towelling cloth, used for washing oneself. 3 Brit. sl. nonsense; flattery.
v. (flannelled, flannelling; US flanneled, flanneling) 1 Brit. sl. a tr. flatter. b intr. use flattery. 2 tr. wash or clean with a flannel. flannel-mouth US sl. a flatterer; a braggart. flannelly adj.
[ perh. f. Welsh gwlanen f. gwlan wool ]