Ratchet

The term ratchet, from a derogatory sense of the term, stems from drug use. A "ratchet" in slang usually refers to someone who is "ghetto", unkept, and unable to keep steady work. It's particularly derogatory towards lower class women. However it's use first comes from deep drug addiction where "ratchet" refers to someone (more often a woman apparently) that got into the grips of drug addiction from a drug dealer. We all have seen the faces of meth and what drug addiction can do to the body and face. So that's where its roots come from. Ratchet then became popularized with the musical genre Trap, a kind of instrumental electronic music with influences from "dirty south" rap. So from the recesses of drug addiction to pop culture and morphed into people who just can't take care of themselves.