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

There was a man at my screening with the most irritating banshee laugh, which he would unleash at the most base-level moments of humor.

From The Daily Beast

When the sheriff-to-be is killed, the man assumes his identity, Lucas Hood, and becomes the new Sheriff of Banshee.

From The Daily Beast

The first season of Banshee, meanwhile, was completely outrageous (in a good way).

From The Daily Beast

It is probably sometimes the one and sometimes the other; and its origin is very possibly like that of the Banshee.

From Project Gutenberg

By that time they were down in the servant's pantry where Polly was moaning and groaning and wailing like a banshee.

From Project Gutenberg

I left the road, circled the house with the turbine screaming like a banshee and the car taking the corners on the outside wheels.

From Project Gutenberg

The car shuddered, howled like a wounded banshee, and then leaped forward with a roar.

From Project Gutenberg

"Good old Dog; he's treed the Banshee," and Yan rushed out into the darkness.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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