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Where does the word "Blighty" come from?

Question

Sometimes you use the word Blighty to mean Britain, usually when people are coming "back to Blighty". Where does the word come from?
Pete, Croydon

Answer

Name: Robert, Somerset
Qualification: I have a dictionary of Anglo-Indian and my father was in the Indian army
Answer: In that uniquely British way that we have, it comes from a Hindu word meaning courage - vilāyatī. It was an Indian army expression for Britain when you weren’t there, hence the reason people talk about going back to Blighty, but never when they’re actually in it.

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