From: Arthur Pay (Arthur@ARTHURPAY.DEMON.CO.UK)
Date: Fri Apr 16 1999 - 01:21:08 PDT
On Fri 16 Apr, Peter Sinclair wrote: > I wonder whether anyone can identify the origin of the word "Blighty" > as used by the men/women in the British Forces during WWII when > referring to "home" in the UK. > > Regards-Peter S > Hi Peter, According to "Brewers Dictionary, Blighty is a colloquial name for England used by soldiers serving abroad in WW1 but originating among those who had served in India some years before. It originates in an Urdu word meaning foreign land. There were three popular songs of which "Take me back to dear old Blighty is most well known. If was further extended to wounds which required the injured soldier to be repatriated to England -- Arthur@arthurpay.demon.co.uk