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blighter

American  
[blahy-ter] / ˈblaɪ tər /

noun

British Slang.
  1. a contemptible, worthless person, especially a man; scoundrel or rascal.

  2. a chap; bloke.


blighter British  
/ ˈblaɪtə /

noun

  1. a fellow

    where's the blighter gone?

  2. a despicable or irritating person or thing

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of blighter

First recorded in 1815–25; blight + -er 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

That potential is inspiring more than a dozen companies around the world—including Blighter Surveillance Systems in England, and Dedrone and DeTect in the U.S.—to develop antidrone technology.

From Scientific American • Apr. 3, 2023

Despite the shortcomings of radar, Blighter Surveillance Systems, based near Cambridge, Britain, is having a go.

From Economist • Apr. 30, 2015

"Blighter owes me fourpence, anyway," roars Elf; and I infer that neither of them has a high opinion of 'Arry's character from the civilian point of view.

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 150, February 16, 1916 by Seaman, Owen, Sir

Seated in the well-appointed library of Blight Hall, John Blighter, Seventeenth Earl of Blight, bowed his head in his hands and gave himself up to despair.

From The Sunny Side by Milne, A. A. (Alan Alexander)

Poor Blight!—or perhaps, since the title was never really his, we should say "Poor Blighter!"

From The Sunny Side by Milne, A. A. (Alan Alexander)

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