Bān’shee or Bēn’shie, n.

n. [Gael. bean-shith, fairy, from Gael. bean, woman, and Gael. sith, Ir. sith, sigh, sighe, sidh, fairy.] A supernatural being supposed by the Irish and Scotch peasantry to give notice to a family of the speedy death of some of its members, by chanting a mournful ditty under the windows of the house. Macaulay.