coolie

[ koo-lee ]

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.

adjective

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

   working for coolie wages.

coolie

/ ˈkuːlɪ /

noun

1. a cheaply hired unskilled Oriental labourer
2. derogatory.
   an Indian living in South Africa

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of coolie¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of coolie¹

C17: from Hindi kulī, probably of Dravidian origin; related to Tamil kūli hire, hireling