A banshee is a female spirit from Irish and Gaelic folklore who is believed to herald the imminent death of a family member through loud wailing, screaming, or keening. The term comes from the Irish "bean sídhe," meaning "woman of the fairy mound," linking her to fairy mythology. Banshees are often depicted as supernatural beings who appear as either old women or young maidens and are sometimes described as ghosts, spirits, or fairies associated with certain families or clans. Their eerie cries serve as a warning of death approaching within a household.