bean-nighe
nature_spirit intermediate Scottish folklore single tradition · 3
The bean-nighe (Scottish Gaelic for 'washerwoman' or 'laundress') is a female spirit in Scottish folklore, regarded as an omen of death and a messenger from the Otherworld. She is a type of ban-sìth that haunts desolate streams and washes the clothing of those who are about to die.
↻ synthesized from 3 sources
When
Relationships
- co occurs with
- Mermaid of Loch Slin, bean chaointe, Cyhyraeth, Banshee
- child of
- ban-sìth
- equivalent to
- mnathan-nighe
- syncretized with
- caointeach, ghost of a little old woman
- cognate of
- Caoineag
Mentioned by
Sources
wikipedia (3)
Source passages
“A bean-nighe ('washerwoman') is a specific type of ban-sìth. The bean-nighe is sometimes known by the diminutives ban-nigheachain ('little washerwoman') or nigheag na h-àtha ('little washer at the ford').”
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