Coolie

usgb/ˈkuːli/
noun

A low-paid worker who carries heavy loads, especially in Asian countries.

My grandfather used to work as a coolie at the Guangzhou harbor, carrying sacks of rice from the ships to the shore.
Visual representation of "coolie" - A low-paid worker who carries heavy loads, especially in Asian countries.

Often appears as...

  • coolie labor
  • coolie hat

Usage tips

Disapproving

Definition 1 of 2
Visual representation of "coolie"
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Heavy Burden

Refers to physically taxing labor, implying the work is hard and person is underpaid.

Illustration for Heavy Burden
He earned his living as a coolie, hefting luggage at the train station.
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Cultural Context

Mostly used in Asian contexts, typically regarding historical labor practices.

Illustration for Cultural Context
The coolie workers helped build the railroads in colonial times.
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Modern Sensitivity

May be considered outdated or insensitive in modern language use.

Illustration for Modern Sensitivity
Use 'manual laborer' instead of 'coolie' to describe workers today.
Visual representation of the word "Coolie"

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