blighter

From blight (something that impedes development or growth, or spoils any other aspect of life) + -er.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈblaɪtə/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈblaɪtɚ/, [ˈblaɪɾɚ]

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

blighter (plural blighters)

1. One who blights.
2. (UK, Ireland, Commonwealth, often disrespectful) A person, usually male, especially one who behaves in an objectionable or pitiable manner.
3. A man or child, especially an annoying one.
   • 1911, Fergus Hume, chapter 10, in Red Money:

     "[I]f I had known that Pine was such a blighter as to leave me nothing, I'm hanged if I'd have allowed him to be buried in such decent company."

   • 1919, Anthony Hope, chapter 7, in The Secret of the Tower:

     He knew that the old blighter had to be humored in certain small ways.

   • 1923, P. G. Wodehouse, The Inimitable Jeeves:

     I tackled the blighter squarely.

   • 2012 March 27, David Seidler, “The King's Speech play: At last, my crowning moment...”, in The Independent, UK, retrieved 27 December 2012:

     Translation: there's still some hope for you, poor stammering blighter.

• Gilbreth, therblig