basket case的词源

英文词源

basket case (n.)

1919, American English, originally a reference to rumors of quadriplegics as a result of catastrophic wounds suffered in World War I (the military vehemently denied there were any such in its hospitals), from basket (n.) + case (n.2). Probably literal, i.e., stuck in a basket, but basket had colloquial connotations of poverty (begging) and helplessness long before this. Figurative sense of "person emotionally unable to cope" is from 1921.

中文词源

basket case：残疾

战争用语。据说在野战医院里见到篮子提回来的在战场上失去四肢的战士，形容战争的残酷。

该词的英语词源请访问趣词词源英文版：basket case 词源，basket case 含义。