coolie

American  

[koo-lee] / ˈku li /

Also cooly

noun

Disparaging and Offensive.

1. an unskilled laborer, especially formerly in China and India.

2. an unskilled laborer employed cheaply, especially one brought from Asia.

3. a contemptuous term used to refer to an Asian, especially an Indian living in South Africa.

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adjective

1. Informal. characteristic of or suitable for a coolie.

   working for coolie wages.

coolie British  

/ ˈkuːlɪ /

noun

1. a cheaply hired unskilled Oriental labourer

2. derogatory an Indian living in South Africa

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Sensitive Note

Both meanings of “unskilled Asian laborer” are found almost exclusively in historical contexts, suggesting imperialistic exploitation of these workers. But coolie is still current as an insulting term used to refer to a person of Asian descent, especially in South Africa.

Etymology

Origin of coolie

First recorded in 1545–55; from Urdu kūlī, from Tamil kūli “hire, hireling”

Example Sentences

Madonna corset dress with a coolie hard hat.

From New York Times • Mar. 3, 2011

Giridharadas introduces us to fascinating characters: The shoeless son of a coolie who transforms himself into a local Dale Carnegie, teaching others how to reinvent themselves.

From New York Times • Jan. 9, 2011

After the Patna scandal, Jim works as a coolie and coal heaver.

From Time Magazine Archive

To make the rural expedition bearable for the Rana and his guests, the princes from neighboring hill states, an enormous amount of paraphernalia had been carried over mountains by mule and coolie.

From Time Magazine Archive

The princess was full of joy when she heard this, and the next morning they borrowed two coolie baskets from a man in the village.

From Shan Folk Lore Stories from the Hill and Water Country by Griggs, William C.