banshee

American  

[ban-shee, ban-shee] / ˈbæn ʃi, bænˈʃi /

Or banshie

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.

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banshee British  

/ ˈbænʃiː, bænˈʃiː /

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of banshee

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

Explanation

A banshee is a mythological creature that appears in Irish folklore and fairy tales. Banshees are female spirits that supposedly wail just before a family member dies. Have you ever heard the phrase "scream like a banshee?" Sometimes people say this when a child is shrieking or a stranger yells loudly. In Irish mythology, a banshee was a type of fairy who would keen, or wail with grief, to mark a person's impending death. If you lived in Ireland long ago and heard three spine-chilling cries in the night, you might think it was a wild animal...or maybe a banshee.

Example Sentences

Best screenplay went to Martin McDonagh, for "The Banshee Of Inisherin", which he also directed.

From Reuters • Sep. 10, 2022

Also in Healdsburg, Banshee Wines is where I go for a lively vibe and standout pinot noirs.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 14, 2021

In a series of balloons - all named Banshee - she competed in long-distance races just before the outbreak of World War One.

From BBC • Feb. 1, 2020

I am very partial to American Chardonnays and ran out and bought a case of Banshee 2014 based on this recommendation.

From New York Times • Oct. 6, 2016

She wailed as if she were the headmistress of the Banshee Academy for Hair-Raising Wails.

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

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