coolie

3 9.9

A rude old word for unskilled Asian workers that people often use for Chinese or Indian workers as an insult

noun
/ˈkuːli/

Slur

: [insulto despectivo para trabajadores asiáticos]

Using the word coolie in modern conversations can offend many people due to its racist connotations.
coolie labor

Examples

The Committee was preoccupied with the question of whether "coolie" immigrant workers were "free" individuals or "slaves."

Academic text (2003)
The coolie is as thin as a shoot of bamboo, and Mr. Chee takes notice.

Fiction book (2001)
The coolie on the street corner might be waiting for customers.

Fiction book (2001)
And every time we looked for a coolie...

Red Dust (1932)
I will not have an officer from my battalion working as a coolie.

The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
A coolie told us that bandits were coming, so we ran.

Fiction book (2001)
From there, he followed the camel corps disguised as a coolie.

Fiction book (2002)
Before the coolie's wage was settled, there was a long drawn-out argument.

Fiction book (1992)
Lop Eye Shing, the number one coolie, says that you killed Chien.

The Sand Pebbles (1966)
He was insulted when someone referred to him as a coolie during the meeting.

Surface Forms

coolie singular

coolies plural

Etymology

Coolie probably comes from Asian words for paid work—South Asian kuli meaning 'wages' or 'hired worker', and, as a helpful way to remember the idea, Chinese ku li meaning 'bitter strength' or 'hard labour'. It was used in colonial times for low-paid Asian workers and later became a rude, ethnic insult, so coolie is now deeply offensive and should not be used.