noun
flannel
FLA-nuhl
noun
1
A soft woven fabric, originally wool, now often cotton or a blend, used for warm shirts and bedding.
"He wore a flannel shirt for the cold hike."
2
(British) A small cloth used for washing the face or body.
"She wiped her face with a damp flannel."
3
(British informal) Empty, flattering talk meant to smooth things over.
"Cut the flannel and just tell me the real numbers."
How to Use Flannel
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA soft warm fabric (or a shirt made from it); in British English also a washcloth, and informally, evasive flattering talk.
UK vs US
In the US, "flannel" mainly means the fabric/shirt. In the UK, it can also mean a face washcloth or, informally, vague flattering talk meant to avoid a straight answer.
Word Forms
flanneled past tense, flannelled past tense, flannels plural, flannels singular
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He wore a _____ shirt for the cold hike.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman flanelle, ultimately traced back to a Celtic word for coarse wool.