Gmc. Folklore a siren whose singing on a rock in the Rhine lures sailors to shipwreck on the reefs: originally a character in literature
Origin:
Ger, altered by C. Brentano (1778-1842), Ger poet, after Lurlei, name of the rock (prob. lit., “ambush cliff”) < MHG luren, to watch, lower + lei, a cliff, rock
See Lorelei in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
A siren of Germanic legend whose singing lures sailors to shipwreck.