blighty

Where does the word "blighty" come from? It comes from Arabic wilāya, passing through Urdu before entering English (1910s).

Blighty’s story begins in Arabic: wilāya meant “province.” A province or governed land. By 1700s, the word had taken hold in Urdu as vilāyatī. 'foreign', especially British or European. It reached English by 1910s as Blighty. British soldiers in India made it slang for home; in the First World War 'a Blighty wound' was one bad enough to be sent home. Today, blighty means britain or England, as a home for soldiers abroad.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval wilāya "province", a province or governed land.
2. Stage 2 · Urdu · 1700s vilāyatī "foreign, British", 'foreign', especially British or European.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1910s Blighty "Britain, home", British soldiers in India made it slang for home; in the First World War 'a Blighty wound' was one bad enough to be sent home.