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

It was the fewest points the Lakers had scored in a playoff win since 1991 — a real celebration of the banshee stuff the coaches had been preaching for months.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

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

Read more on BBC

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.

Read more on Salon

At times sweet naif, at times screaming banshee, she seems not quite human, like the strange half-duck/half-dog creature that follows her around the scientist’s house.

Read more on Seattle Times

On “Devil’s Advocate” from the recently released album “sneek,” Gallant’s lilting croon ushers in Martin’s smooth sax while a sound like a banshee’s lullaby flurries in the upper register — in a good way.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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