noun
coolie
KOO-lee
noun
1
(dated, now often offensive) An unskilled laborer, historically often of Chinese or Indian descent, especially one working under an indenture system.
"The history book described the harsh conditions faced by coolies on the plantations."
How to Use Coolie
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA historical term for a hired unskilled laborer, mainly used of Chinese or Indian indentured workers in the colonial era.
When to use it
Now widely considered offensive or a slur in many contexts; it survives mainly in historical writing rather than everyday use.
Word Forms
coolies plural
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The history book described the harsh conditions faced by _____ on the plantations.
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.