A British English slang term for Britain. An anglicisation of the Hindustani bilayati, meaning foreign. The word was originally used with some affection by the pre-World War I colonial army and then more widely so during World War 1. 'Dear Old Blighty' was a sentimental term used by soldiers in the trenches to express their longing for home; and a 'blighty wound' was one that was serious enought to result in the victim being sent home, but not one that caused death or permanent injury.Now, however, it is used only to suggest mock jingoism.

'I was blown through the door and put my hand to my head. It was covered in blood, but we had no thoughts of Blighty. We didn't want to go back, we'd only just come.' (World War I veteran David Watson, Independent, 12 November 1988).

It was also used in British India by the British to affectionately describe products that they had introduced to the country.