What is the etymology of "basket case"?  When was it first used?  And
how can I find information like this in the future?

Hello dustyngobler-ga,

Thank you for your question.


According to the Online Etymology Dictionary “Basket case” was first
used in 1919, for quadriplegic veterans of World War I.
http://www.etymonline.com/b1etym.htm


The American HeritageŽ Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth
Edition.  2000.
  
Basket case 

“In popular usage basket case refers to someone in a hopeless mental
condition, but in origin it had a physical meaning. In the grim slang
of the British army during World War I, it referred to a quadruple
amputee. This is one of several expressions that first became popular
in World War I, or that entered American army slang from British
English at that time.”
  
“NOUN: 1. Slang One that is in a completely hopeless or useless
condition: “He immediately becomes a psychological basket case,
embittered to the point of craziness” (New York). “After World War I,
when the Hapsburg empire was split up, little Austria seemed a basket
case” (Paul A. Samuelson). 2. Offensive Slang A person, especially a
soldier, who has had all four limbs amputated.”
http://bartelby.com/61/29/B0102900.html


From the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary: 

Word:basket case
Function: noun
Date: 1919
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
http://www.m-w.com/home.htm

From Blue Valleys English Lessons:
Etymology: From World War I lingo, used to describe a soldier so badly
wounded that he had to be carried in a basket.
http://www.bluevalleys.com/english-lessons/more.asp?type=slang&n=61


To find information like this in the future:


ONLINE ETYMOLOGY DICTIONARY
http://www.etymonline.com/

One Look  Dictionary Search
Search dictionary web sites for words and phrases
http://onelook.com/index.html


Word and Phrase Origins: 
This guide is designed for anyone who is looking for the origin of
words and/or phrases or  etymology online.
http://www.ipl.org/div/pf/entry/48468


Google Search: "basket case" etymology  
Just substitute the word or phrase you require.



Search Criteria:
online dictionary of phrase origins 
online etymology dictionary
"basket case" etymology  
"basket case" origin  


I hope you find this helpful and if any part of my answer is unclear,
please don't hesitate to ask for clarification.  I'll be happy to be
of further assistance!


Best regards,
Bobbie7-ga

---

Clarification of Answer by bobbie7-ga on 15 Apr 2003 12:50 PDT

Here is a list of over 300 words and phrase origins that you may find useful.
http://www.wordorigins.org/thelist.htm

dustyngobler,

In addition to the great sources that Bobbie listed, you might be
interested in this entertaining and useful forum devoted to word
origins:

http://pub122.ezboard.com/bwordoriginsorg

In fact, the forum has discussed "basket case":

http://pub122.ezboard.com/fwordoriginsorgfrm3.showMessage?topicID=299.topic