I don't know if people generally use this now, or if it means Britain or England, please would you shed some light on this subject. (please don't just copy and paste from Wikepedia, thank you).
2006-06-11 22:35:30 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ United Kingdom ➔ Other - United Kingdom
I didn't know this either (though I knew the term and the song "Take me back to dear old Blighty"), so I was fascinated to find that it comes from a Hindustani word, bilayati, meaning 'foreign'.
It's odd how some people get labeled as 'foreigners' in their own country. The words 'Wales', 'Welsh', 'Cornwall' and 'Walloon' as well as the French for Wales (Payes de Galles) and the Latin for France itself 'Gaul' or 'Gallia' all contain an element that means 'foreign'.
Blighty is a word no longer used of England, though it might be heard in a sort of jokingly archaic way.
2006-06-11 22:51:54 · answer #1 · answered by Owlwings 7 · 7⤊ 1⤋
It comes from the Hindu word bilayati which means foreign and was used to refer to Britain and British things. British soldiers picked up the word during the time of occupation and corrupted it to Blighty. It became popular during the first world war in many songs etc.
2006-06-11 22:54:08 · answer #2 · answered by migelito 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because it is barren and full of blight?
2006-06-12 13:35:45 · answer #3 · answered by bunstihl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What they said. :P
2006-06-12 03:51:50 · answer #4 · answered by Evil J.Twin 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋