Etymology Map
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Blighty

3 stages from Arabic to English.

Today it means Britain or England, as a home for soldiers abroad

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

1
Stage 1 of 3
wilāya
Arabic · medieval
"province"
a province or governed land
2
Stage 2 of 3
vilāyatī
Urdu · 1700s
"foreign, British"
'foreign', especially British or European
3
Stage 3 of 3
Blighty
English · 1910s
"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
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Read the full story

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.