flannel

[flan-l]

noun

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,

   1. an outer garment, especially trousers, made of flannel.

   2. woolen undergarments.

4. British.

   1. a washcloth.

   2. Informal.,  nonsense; humbug; empty talk.

   3. Informal.,  flattery; insincere or overdone praise.

verb (used with object)

flanneled, flanneling , flannelled, flannelling .

1. to cover or clothe with flannel.

2. to rub with flannel.

flannel

/ ˈflænəl /

noun

1. a soft light woollen fabric with a slight nap, used for clothing

2. (plural) trousers or other garments made of flannel

3. See cotton flannel

4. US and Canadian equivalent: washcloth. a small piece of cloth used to wash the face and hands; face cloth

5. informal,  indirect or evasive talk; deceiving flattery

verb

1. to cover or wrap with flannel

2. to rub, clean, or polish with flannel

3. informal,  to talk evasively to; flatter in order to mislead

Other Word Forms

• flannelly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of flannel¹

1300–50; Middle English flaunneol, perhaps dissimilated variant of flanyn sackcloth < Welsh; compare Welsh gwlanen woolen article, equivalent to gwlân wool (akin to Latin lāna ) + -en suffix denoting a single item (as a piece of a mass noun or singular of a collective plural)

Word History and Origins

Origin of flannel¹

C14: probably variant of flanen sackcloth, from Welsh gwlanen woollen fabric, from gwlân wool

Example Sentences

She’s wearing a long-sleeved flannel shirt rolled up to her elbows.

Read more on Literature

At the moment, however, Penelope’s only wish was to wrestle herself out of that absurd outfit and into her own plain flannel nightdress before nodding off.

Read more on Literature

Now, he wears it neatly trimmed, but has embraced the Seattle look of untucked flannel shirts and jeans.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

And, when I need it the most, a freshly washed flannel shirt comingled with the oddly pleasant aroma of uncooked meat.

Read more on Salon

He was dressed in standard Mexican grandpa attire: long flannel shirt, blue hat, jeans and sneakers along with a salt-and-pepper mustache and a leather cellphone case hanging from his belt.

Read more on Los Angeles Times