/flan"l/ , n. , v. , flanneled, flanneling or ( esp. Brit. ), flannelled, flannelling .
n.
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 ,
a. an outer garment, esp. trousers, made of flannel.
b. woolen undergarments.
4. Brit.
a. a washcloth.
b. Informal. nonsense; humbug; empty talk.
c. Informal. flattery; insincere or overdone praise.
v.t.
5. to cover or clothe with flannel.
6. to rub with flannel.
[ 1300-50; ME flaunneol, perh. dissimilated var. of flanyn sackcloth gwlanen woolen article, equiv. to gwlân WOOL (akin to L lana ) + -en suffix denoting a single item (as a piece of a mass noun or sing. of a collective pl.) ]