Meaning of dullahan | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A black-clad (usually male) horserider in Irish folklore which carries its severed head like a lantern and may be repelled by gold; when it stops riding (or calls out someone's name), someone will die. (Also called the Gan Ceann, Irish for "[one] without a head".)
   Irish
2. Alternative letter-case form of dullahan.
   alt-of
3. A surname from Irish.

Examples

“The dullahans always came in a mist. But Devin wasn't afraid of dullahans. If he saw⟳ one, he would club it over the head. But then Devin remembered that dullahans didn't have⟳ heads. He grasped his stick⟳ a little tighter in his hand, […]”

““A dullahan,” both Phelan and Coriel whispered. Coriel looked her square in the eye, “You did remember⟳ the gold, right?” ML blushed, “No, I didn't. I was so scared I just started running.” “Then how did you escape⟳?” “My pocket tore on a bush. […] “You're lucky you're not dead anyway. The dullahan could have⟳ stopped or spoken your name⟳, or both.””

“There is no way to bar the road against a dullahan. All locks and gates open⟳ on their own⟳ when it approaches. Dullahans do not appreciate being watched while on their errands, throwing a basin of blood on those who dare to do so […]”

“But the values of a fairy manifested into physical form⟳ in this city—a dullahan.” Celty Sturluson was not a human being. Celty was a type⟳ of fairy known as a dullahan that appeared to those close⟳ to death, signaling their impending demise.”

“Because she is a dullahan, her head is not connected to her body—it's held in place⟳ by her gear.”

““With the Bodach defeated, no one thought to protect⟳ Gwen. A Dullahan discovered her and used the necklace to control⟳ her. Through her, it learned everything about Arthur's defenses.””

“It was never fully clear to Irving whether the Dullahan and the Gan Ceann were the same entity [...]. Most feared of all the Unseelie, the Dullahan is a bringer of dismay and death. The Dullahan is a headless rider, clad in a flowing black cape and usually mounted upon a black horse that spews flames from its nostrils […] The Dullahan carries its rotting head aloft in one hand like⟳ a lantern, the better to see⟳ immense distances, while it holds a whip made from a human spinal cord in the other.”

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