noun
- A female spirit in Irish folklore whose wailing is believed to foretell the death of a member of a family.
Usage: Also spelled 'banshee' (more common modern spelling).; From Irish mythology and folklore.; Often capitalized when referring to the specific supernatural being.
Examples
- According to Irish legend, a banshie's cry in the night was an omen of death.
- The old castle was said to be haunted by a banshie who wailed before tragedies.
- Villagers feared hearing the banshie's mournful song echoing through the hills.
- In folklore, the banshie would comb her long hair while keening for the dying.
- The banshie is one of the most famous creatures in Celtic mythology.