banshee

/ˈbænʃi/
noun
  1. In Irish folklore, a female spirit whose wailing warns of an impending death in a family.
    • The old story tells of a banshee who appeared at the castle gates.
    • According to legend, the banshee's cry could be heard before someone died.
    • Many Irish families have tales of hearing a banshee wailing in the night.
  2. A person who makes a loud, high-pitched, or mournful sound, often used humorously or critically.
    • The singer's voice was so shrill she sounded like a banshee.
    • The alarm clock went off like a banshee, waking everyone in the house.
    • My little brother screamed like a banshee when he saw the spider.
What does "banshee" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean