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A banshee (/ˈbænʃiː/ BAN-shee; Modern Irish bean sí, from Old Irish: ben síde [bʲen ˈʃiːðʲe], "woman of the fairy mound" or "fairy woman") is a female spirit in Irish folklore who heralds the death of a family member,[1] usually by screaming, wailing, shrieking, or keening. Her name is connected to the mythologically important tumuli or "mounds" that dot the Irish countryside, which are known as síde (singular síd) in Old Irish.[2]
- ^ Encyclopaedia Britannica, Celtic Folklore: Banshee.. Retrieved 11 June 2020
- ^ Dictionary of the Irish Language: síd, síth: "a fairy hill or mound" and ben