flannel, n. [F. flanelle, cf. OF. flaine a pillowcase, a mattress (?); fr. W. gwlanen flannel, fr. gwlan wool; prob. akin to E. wool. Cf. Wool.].

A soft, nappy, woolen cloth, of loose texture. Shak. [1913 Webster]
a cotton fabric with a thick nap on one side, resembling flannel{1}; it is used, e. g. for underwear or sheets; also called flanellette. [PJC]
garments made of flannel, especially underwear. [PJC]
a washcloth. [PJC]
humbug; nonsensical or evasive talk. [PJC]
insincere flattery or praise. [PJC]

Adam's flannel. (Bot.) See under Adam. -- Canton flannel, Cotton flannel. See Cotton flannel, under Cotton.

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

flannel, 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.

Idiom

flannel-mouth US sl. a flatterer; a braggart.

Derivative

flannelly adj.

Etymology

perh. f. Welsh gwlanen f. gwlan wool

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THESAURUS

flannel

ballocks, blarney, bull, bullshit, bushwa, cock, crap, eyewash, flatter, flattery, hedge, hogwash, humbug, mislead, nonsense, prevarication, rubbish, shit, soft soap, soft-soap, sweet talk, sweet-talk, waffle, weasel words

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ROGET THESAURUS

flannel

Calefaction

N calefaction, increase of temperature, heating, calefaction, tepefaction, torrefaction, melting, fusion, liquefaction, burning, ambustion, combustion, incension, accension, concremation, cremation, scorification, cautery, cauterization, ustulation, calcination, cracking, refining, incineration, cineration, carbonization, cupellation, ignition, inflammation, adustion, flagration, deflagration, conflagration, empyrosis, incendiarism, arson, auto dafe, boiling, coction, ebullition, estuation, elixation, decoction, ebullioscope, geyser, distillation (vaporization), furnace, blanket, flannel, fur, wadding, clothing, still, refinery, fractionating column, fractionating tower, cracking tower, match, incendiary, petroleuse, cauterizer, caustic, lunar caustic, alkali, apozem, moxa, acid, aqua fortis, aqua regia, catheretic, nitric acid, nitrochloro-hydric acid, nitromuriatic acid, radioactivity, gamma rays, alpha particles, beta rays, X-rays, radiation, cosmic radiation, background radiation, radioactive isotopes, tritium, uranium, plutonium, radon, radium, sunstroke, coup de soleil, insolation, pottery, ceramics, crockery, porcelain, china, earthenware, stoneware, pot, mug, terra cotta, brick, clinker, cinder, ash, scoriae, embers, soot, slag, coke, carbon, charcoal, wood alcohol, turpentine, tea tree oil, gasoline, kerosene, naptha, fuel oil (fuel), wax, paraffin, residue, tar, inflammability, combustibility, diathermancy, transcalency, conduction, convection, radiation, radiant heat, heat conductivity, conductivity, thermal expansion, coefficient of expansion, heated, molten, sodden, r_echauff_e, heating, adust, inflammable, combustible, diathermal, diathermanous, burnt, volcanic, radioactive.

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