The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word BANSHEE
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
B
A
N
S
H
E
E
More clues leading to the result BANSHEE
- Sign of imminent death? Refuses to allow reduction in care
- Plague overtakes woman, one likely to wail
- Curse looms over female spirit
- That woman embracing European after prohibition is a wailer
- One of The Wailers outlaws incomplete list
- Has-been cast as female spirit
- Woman in torment shows spirit
- Female entering, cause of misery
- Female spirit, the woman steeped in poison
- Wailing woman forces out the first bit of a mule’s call
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "spirit" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case spirit = banshee.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does BANSHEE mean?
BANSHEE noun- (Irish folklore) A female spirit, usually taking the form of a woman whose mournful wailing warns of an impending death.
- A noisy or ill-tempered woman.