Definition

Noun: 1. (Irish folklore) A female spirit whose mournful wailing or keening is believed to warn of an impending death in a family. This supernatural being, often depicted as a woman with long, flowing hair and dressed in a grey cloak, is an omen of death.

Usage

The word "banshie" is used specifically in the context of Irish folklore and mythology. It refers to the spirit itself or the concept of its warning cry. - The old tale spoke of a banshie whose cry was heard the night before the chieftain died. - They believed the wailing in the wind was the sound of a banshie.

Advanced Usage

• "banshie's wail": Refers specifically to the characteristic mournful cry of the spirit.
  • The silence of the night was broken by what sounded like a banshie's wail.
• "to hear the banshie": An idiom meaning to receive a supernatural omen of death.
  • According to legend, to hear the banshie is to know a death is near.

Variants and Related Words

• Banshee: This is the more common and standard modern spelling of the word "banshie."
• Bean sídhe: The original Irish Gaelic term from which "banshee/banshie" is derived, meaning "woman of the fairy mound" or "woman of the spirits."

Synonyms

• Harbinger of death: A person or thing that announces or signals the approach of death.
• Omen: An event regarded as a portent of good or evil. (This is a more general term.)

Related Idioms

• To scream like a banshee: To scream or wail very loudly and shrilly. This common idiom uses the concept of the banshee's cry to describe a person's loud scream.
  • The toddler screamed like a banshee when his toy was taken away.

Noun

1. (Irish folklore) a female spirit who wails to warn of impending death