Blinking

Blinking: A word used as a euphemism for "Bloody," to qualify anything and everything, and on any occasion. "Halt! Who comes there?" challenged an outpost sentry, on a mounted patrol approaching his post at night. "12th blinking Lancers" came a shout in the darkness. Satisfied, the sentry simply answered "Pass 12th blinking Lancers and all's well!"

This story also is told of a smart young Staff Officer in the South African War. Riding up one day to a party of dusty infantrymen wearily tramping over the veldt, he called out, "Are you the West Riding?" "No, me lord," came the reply from the ranks, "we ain't. We're the blinkin' Buffs – walkin'."