noun
marine spirits; ghostly ship apparitions
Refers to ghostly phenomena at sea in Japanese folklore, such as phantom ships, drowned sailors' spirits, or eerie lights on the water.
船幽霊は、海で船を迷わせる霊として伝えられている。
Funayūrei are said to be spirits that lead ships astray at sea.
Compound of 船 (funa, 'ship') and 幽霊 (yūrei, 'ghost'). The exact folkloric origin is uncertain; the term is used in traditional Japanese ghost stories.