Petrifying woman? (6)
I believe the answer is:
gorgon
'petrifying woman?' is the definition.
(type of mythological being)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for gorgon that I've seen before include "In Greek myth, a snake-haired woman whose look turned men to stone" , "Mythical female winged monster" , "eg Medusa" , "(and 17) Italian cheese" , "Petrifying woman of myth" .)