banshee

or ban·shie

[ ban-shee, ban-shee ]

noun

1. (in Irish folklore) a spirit in the form of a wailing woman who appears to or is heard by members of a family as a sign that one of them is about to die.

banshee

/ ˈbænʃiː; bænˈʃiː /

noun

1. (in Irish folklore) a female spirit whose wailing warns of impending death

Word History and Origins

Origin of banshee¹

First recorded in 1765–75; from Irish bean sídhe “woman of a fairy mound”; bean “woman” (from Old Irish ben; queen ) + sídhe “of a fairy mound” (from Old Irish síde, genitive of síd “fairy mound”; sídh )

Word History and Origins

Origin of banshee¹

C18: from Irish Gaelic bean sídhe , literally: woman of the fairy mound

Example Sentences

When he heard the news he says he “wailed like a banshee for 20 minutes”.

From BBC

In 2022, Kuoco, 38, confirmed her relationship to the “incredible” “Ozark” and “Banshee” actor, 42.

From Los Angeles Times

At the same time, he continues to throw himself a great pity party, wraps himself in his solipsistic view of victimhood, wailing like a banshee and gnashing his teeth in anger.

From Salon

“My uncle Larry got knocked out from a mojo bag that rained gold bricks. When he woke up a year later, his wife had spent his winnings. A shame. He got plenty paid from that class action lawsuit, but she ended up taking that in the divorce. Daddy told him not to marry a Banshee.”

From Literature

This sunrise view, captured from Banshee Peak a few years ago, “still rates as one of my favorites,” he said.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• demon
• devil
• phantom
• shadow
• soul
• specter
• vampire
• vision