I. ˈflan ə l noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English flaunneol, a woolen cloth or garment, flanyn, a penitential garment, probably from (assumed) Middle Welsh gwlanen flannel (whence Welsh gwlanen ), from (assumed) Middle Welsh gwlân wool (whence Welsh gwlân ); akin to Latin lana wool — more at wool
1.
a. : a soft twilled fabric with a loose texture and a slightly napped surface made in various weights of wool or worsted yarns and often in combination with cotton or synthetic yarns
b. : a napped cotton fabric of soft yarns simulating the texture of wool flannel:
(1) : flannelette
(2) : a stout cotton fabric usually softly napped on one side and twilled on the other and used especially for work gloves, filters, polishing cloths (as for shoes), and linings — called also Canton flannel
(3) : outing flannel
2. flannels plural
a. : warm undergarments of flannel or sometimes of knit fabric ; especially : men's long underdrawers
b. : outer garments of flannel ; especially : men's trousers
c. : flannel garments forming a uniform (as of a club or team)
d. Britain : the place on a team represented by the wearing of such flannels or an individual holding such a place
3. Britain : washcloth
II. transitive verb
( flanneled or flannelled ; flanneled or flannelled ; flanneling or flannelling ; flannels )
: to clothe or enclose in or rub with flannel
III. noun
Britain : flattering or evasive talk ; also : nonsense : rubbish
• flannel verb , Britain