Flannel is a soft cloth, usually made of cotton or wool, that is used for making clothes.
He wore a faded red flannel shirt.
2. plural noun [also a pair ofN]
Flannels are men's trousers made of flannel.
[old-fashioned]
...respectable young chaps, dressed in flannels and blazers.
3. countable noun
A flannel is a small cloth that you use for washing yourself.
[British]regional note: in AM, use washcloth
4. uncountable noun
If you describe what someone has said as flannel, you disapprove because they have said a lot but they have avoided telling you what you wanted to know.
[British, informal, disapproval]
No amount of flannel could disguise that this was, at best, a minimalist solution.
More Synonyms of flannel
flannel in British English
(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. cotton flannel
4. British
a small piece of cloth used to wash the face and hands; face cloth
US and Canadian equivalent: washcloth
5. British informal
indirect or evasive talk; deceiving flattery
verbWord forms: -nels, -nelling, -nelledWord forms: US-nels, -neling or -neled(transitive)
6.
to cover or wrap with flannel
7.
to rub, clean, or polish with flannel
8. British informal
to talk evasively to; flatter in order to mislead
Derived forms
flannelly (ˈflannelly)
adjective
Word origin
C14: probably variant of flanen sackcloth, from Welsh gwlanen woollen fabric, from gwlân wool
flannel in American English
(ˈflænəl)
noun
1.
a soft, lightweight, loosely woven woolen cloth with a slightly napped surface
2.
cotton flannel
3. [pl.]
a.
trousers, etc. made of light flannel
b.
heavy woolen underwear
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈflanneled or ˈflannelled, ˈflanneling or ˈflannelling
4.
to wrap or clothe in flannel
Derived forms
flannelly (ˈflannelly)
adjective
Word origin
ME, akin to or < flanen < Welsh gwlanen < gwlan, wool < IE base *wel-, hair, wool
Examples of 'flannel' in a sentence
flannel
Stick to using a warm, clean flannel instead.
The Sun (2016)
I love an oversized flannel shirt and a scarf that trails on the floor.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Why not hit them with a wet flannel or a custard pie?
The Sun (2014)
In my day you made do with a wet flannel of mustard and cress.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Press a cold flannel on the skin to make it instantly look much healthier and refreshed.
The Sun (2013)
Follow this with the cold flannel which has been wrung out in the same way.
MacEoin, Beth Healthy By Nature (1994)
He was shown something the size of a face flannel.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
She took off her flannel shirt and buttoned him up in it.
Aidan Hartley THE ZANZIBAR CHEST: A Memoir of Love and War (2003)
Make haste with the old flannel.
The Sun (2015)
She also put a wet flannel on her mum's head and soothed her as instructed.
The Sun (2007)
It's like talking to a wet flannel.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Once, a new set of soft flannel sheets turned up on our front porch.
Christianity Today (2000)
Also keep a cold, damp flannel by your bed.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Hang on a minute, this is all a load of old flannel.
The Sun (2013)
He has the grey flannel suit, white shirt and skinny tie.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The players had been issued with heavy grey flannel suits, totally unsuitable for the summer months.
Leo McKinstry Sir Alf: A Major Reappraisal of the Life and Times of England's Greatest FootballManager (2006)
Remove the balm with a clean, hot flannel.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
A cold flannel on the forehead might make you feel more comfortable.
Trickett, Shirley Coming Off Tranquillizers and Sleeping Pills (1991)
Wet a flannel with effects.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Inside the ministry building I handed my documents to a chubby official in a flannel shirt.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
When we go out I take a damp flannel in a plastic bag.
The Sun (2013)
I'd advise applying it with a hot flannel because it takes ages if you use cotton wool.
The Sun (2015)
And while you're there, have a look at the flannel check shirts.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Afterwards, remove the facial oil with a hot, damp flannel.
The Sun (2013)
Get down to Uniqlo and buy one of these splendid print or check flannel shirts, and wear with boyfriend jeans and heels or brogues.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Word lists with
flannel
fabric
In other languages
flannel
British English: flannel /ˈflænl/ NOUN
face cloth A flannel is a small cloth that you use for washing yourself.
American English: washcloth
Arabic: فُوطَةٌ صَغِيرَة
Brazilian Portuguese: flanela
Chinese: 法兰绒
Croatian: flanel
Czech: žínka na mytí
Danish: flonel
Dutch: washandje
European Spanish: manopla
Finnish: flanelli
French: gant de toilette
German: Waschlappen
Greek: φανέλα
Italian: flanella
Japanese: 浴用タオル
Korean: 플란넬
Norwegian: flanell
Polish: flanela
European Portuguese: flanela
Romanian: lavetă
Russian: мягкая мочалка
Latin American Spanish: franela
Swedish: tvättlapp
Thai: ผ้าสักหลาดอ่อน
Turkish: yüz havlusu
Ukrainian: фланель
Vietnamese: vải flannel
British English: flannel NOUN
materialFlannel is a soft cloth, usually made of cotton or wool, that is used for making clothes.
He wore a faded red flannel shirt.
American English: flannel
Brazilian Portuguese: flanela
Chinese: 法兰绒
European Spanish: franela
French: gant de toilette
German: Flanell
Italian: flanella
Japanese: フランネル
Korean: 플란넬
European Portuguese: flanela
Latin American Spanish: franela
All related terms of 'flannel'
face flannel
A face flannel is a small cloth made of towelling which you use for washing yourself.
Canton flannel
→ cotton flannel
cotton flannel
a plain-weave or twill-weave fabric with nap on one side only
flannel flower
any Australian plant of the umbelliferous genus Actinotus having white flannel-like bracts beneath the flowers
flannel-mouthed
speaking thickly, as if one's mouth were full of flannel
outing flannel
a soft, warm cotton fabric in a plain or twill weave with a nap on both sides
red-flannel hash
hash made of ground corned beef, potatoes , and beets