coolie
1 synonym for coolie, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — (dated, now often offensive) An unskilled laborer, historically often of Chinese or Indian descent, especially one working under an indenture system.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
cooly
Etymology
Borrowed from Hindi/Urdu qulī ("hired laborer"), itself possibly traceable to Ottoman Turkish or a Gujarati tribal name; the word spread through European colonial trade to describe indentured Asian laborers.
Full origin of coolie →Frequently asked questions
What does “coolie” mean?
The word “coolie” means (dated, now often offensive) An unskilled laborer, historically often of Chinese or Indian descent, especially one working under an indenture system. In plain terms, a historical term for a hired unskilled laborer, mainly used of Chinese or Indian indentured workers in the colonial era.
How do you pronounce “coolie”?
“Coolie” is pronounced KOO-lee (/ˈkuːli/ in IPA).
How do you use “coolie” in a sentence?
Here is “coolie” used in a sentence: “The history book described the harsh conditions faced by coolies on the plantations.”
What part of speech is “coolie”?
“Coolie” is a noun.
Where does the word “coolie” come from?
The word “coolie” comes from Hindi. Borrowed from Hindi/Urdu qulī ("hired laborer"), itself possibly traceable to Ottoman Turkish or a Gujarati tribal name; the word spread through European colonial trade to describe indentured Asian laborers.
