banshee
or ban·shie
[ ban-shee, ban-shee ]
/ ˈbæn ʃi, bænˈʃi /
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noun
(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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Origin of banshee
1765–75; <Irish bean sīdhe woman of a fairy mound; see sídh
Words nearby banshee
banquet room, banquette, Banquo, bans, bansela, banshee, Banstead, bant, bantam, bantamweight, Bantam work
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
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British Dictionary definitions for banshee
banshee
/ (ˈbænʃiː, bænˈʃiː) /
noun
(in Irish folklore) a female spirit whose wailing warns of impending death
Word Origin for banshee
C18: from Irish Gaelic bean sídhe, literally: woman of the fairy mound
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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