A spirit from ancient Irish/Scottish Celtic mythology.
From Old Irish "ben síde" and modern Irish "bean sídhe"/"bean sí", the word roughly means "woman of the fairies" ("bean": "woman"; "sídhe": "fairy mound"). When a citizen of a village dies, a woman (sometimes known as keener (taken from the Irish Gaelic word "caoin" ("to weep/cry")) would sing a caoineadh (lament); legend has it that, for five great Gaelic families: the O'Gradys, the O'Neills, the O'Briens, the O'Connors, and the Kavanaghs, the lament would be sung by a particular fairy woman.
When the stories were translated into English, a distinction between the "banshee" and the other fairy folk was introduced which does not seem to exist in the original stories in their original language, and the funeral lament became a wail that heralded a death. Hearing the cry of the banshee came to forewarn a death in the family and seeing the banshee would signify one's own death.
Most often, the banshee appears a maiden in white, combing their cascading fair hair with a silver comb (which is likely confused with local mermaid myths), while they are also shown in black or green and wearing a grey cloak.
She may also appear (near a body of water) as a washer-woman, and is seen apparently washing the blood-stained clothes of the ones who are about to die. In this guise she is known as the bean-nighe (washing woman).
From Old Irish "ben síde" and modern Irish "bean sídhe"/"bean sí", the word roughly means "woman of the fairies" ("bean": "woman"; "sídhe": "fairy mound"). When a citizen of a village dies, a woman (sometimes known as keener (taken from the Irish Gaelic word "caoin" ("to weep/cry")) would sing a caoineadh (lament); legend has it that, for five great Gaelic families: the O'Gradys, the O'Neills, the O'Briens, the O'Connors, and the Kavanaghs, the lament would be sung by a particular fairy woman.
When the stories were translated into English, a distinction between the "banshee" and the other fairy folk was introduced which does not seem to exist in the original stories in their original language, and the funeral lament became a wail that heralded a death. Hearing the cry of the banshee came to forewarn a death in the family and seeing the banshee would signify one's own death.
Most often, the banshee appears a maiden in white, combing their cascading fair hair with a silver comb (which is likely confused with local mermaid myths), while they are also shown in black or green and wearing a grey cloak.
She may also appear (near a body of water) as a washer-woman, and is seen apparently washing the blood-stained clothes of the ones who are about to die. In this guise she is known as the bean-nighe (washing woman).
The haunting sound of a woman sobbing echoed faintly, but clearly, through the night... the cry of the banshee!
by Lorelili September 2, 2006
Get the banshee mug.When a male slaps the top of a female's breasts, as if he was dribbling two basketballs. Then he cums into her mouth as if he was scoring a basket.
by KCCAEKMRS June 26, 2008
Get the Oklahoma Bankshot mug.1.Some who smokes so much weed that they smoked themselves retarted
2.A time when a group of people come together to smoke weed together
2.A time when a group of people come together to smoke weed together
1.Reid smokes so much weed that he smoked himself retarted and he's definitely a BAKESHOW
2.Before we went to the party we had a BAKESHOW with 5 blunts and 2 bongs going around
2.Before we went to the party we had a BAKESHOW with 5 blunts and 2 bongs going around
by BigSexy May 28, 2006
Get the Bakeshow mug.by PKMKB17 June 25, 2019
Get the bajesh mug.Something done in a continually wild, loud, out of control manner, especially if it seems surprising given the person, activity, manner, etc.
by Ooooooya August 4, 2007
Get the like a banshee mug.people are actually getting the definition of a banshee very wrong. let me quote from john allan's "mysteries".
"banshees are really guardian spirits rather than harbingers of doom, but their cry always spell disaster."
so a banshee, or a bansidhe is not the cause of death of someone, but a warning cry, if you will.
"banshees are really guardian spirits rather than harbingers of doom, but their cry always spell disaster."
so a banshee, or a bansidhe is not the cause of death of someone, but a warning cry, if you will.
by angrytoast March 27, 2009
Get the banshee mug.it means the bestest bestfriend. they argue a lot of times but they always forgive each other. someone who is always be there for you no matter what circumtances. she will never leave you hanging. someone who will fight for you until the end. when someone got broken hearted.. your babesh will be the one who is with you. an extraordinary bestfriend
by micai March 2, 2007
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