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.
Phrases and idioms:
flannel-mouth US sl. a flatterer; a braggart.
Derivatives:
flannelly adj.
Etymology: perh. f. Welsh gwlanen f. gwlan wool