Definition of the word basket case

The term "basket case" originally referred to a solider who was so badly injured during wartime that their body had to be carried in a wicker basket due to the severity of their injuries. This unpleasant and graphic image became a popular slang term in the aftermath of World War I, where it was used to describe any person, especially soldiers, who were completely helpless and incapable of taking care of themselves due to severe physical or mental wounds. The negative connotation of the term "basket case" has persisted in popular culture for many years and is still used today as a pejorative term to describe someone who is weak, helpless, or incapable of achieving anything.