Coolie
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.
Often appears as...
- coolie labor
- coolie hat
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
A derogatory term used for an Asian, especially people from India and China.
The locals used the term 'coolie' to rudely refer to the incoming immigrants.
Often appears as...
- coolie immigrant
- indentured coolie
Usage tips
Offensive
Historical
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.
Often appears as...
- coolie labor
- coolie hat
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
A derogatory term used for an Asian, especially people from India and China.
The locals used the term 'coolie' to rudely refer to the incoming immigrants.
Often appears as...
- coolie immigrant
- indentured coolie
Usage tips
Offensive
Historical
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Heavy Burden
Refers to physically taxing labor, implying the work is hard and person is underpaid.
He earned his living as a coolie, hefting luggage at the train station.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Context
Mostly used in Asian contexts, typically regarding historical labor practices.
The coolie workers helped build the railroads in colonial times.
Pro Tip 3/3Modern Sensitivity
May be considered outdated or insensitive in modern language use.
Use 'manual laborer' instead of 'coolie' to describe workers today.
Pro Tip 1/3Heavy Burden
Refers to physically taxing labor, implying the work is hard and person is underpaid.
He earned his living as a coolie, hefting luggage at the train station.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Context
Mostly used in Asian contexts, typically regarding historical labor practices.
The coolie workers helped build the railroads in colonial times.
Pro Tip 3/3Modern Sensitivity
May be considered outdated or insensitive in modern language use.
Use 'manual laborer' instead of 'coolie' to describe workers today.
Pro Tip 1/3Heavy Burden
Refers to physically taxing labor, implying the work is hard and person is underpaid.
He earned his living as a coolie, hefting luggage at the train station.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Context
Mostly used in Asian contexts, typically regarding historical labor practices.
The coolie workers helped build the railroads in colonial times.
Pro Tip 3/3Modern Sensitivity
May be considered outdated or insensitive in modern language use.
Use 'manual laborer' instead of 'coolie' to describe workers today.
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Video examples
Man vs. Mob PIPE National...
meets fred roti to discuss a legal matter coolies brother a real estate lawyer requires a zoning change in the first Ward Marcy's territory we sat down and he said well what's this all about and I
Video examples
“We Want Our America...
statue we got from the French well that horse still learning with strangers she's flirting fighting them into a bed the guineas the coolies the wetbacks
Video examples
Man vs. Mob PIPE National...
meets fred roti to discuss a legal matter coolies brother a real estate lawyer requires a zoning change in the first Ward Marcy's territory we sat down and he said well what's this all about and I
Video examples
“We Want Our America...
statue we got from the French well that horse still learning with strangers she's flirting fighting them into a bed the guineas the coolies the wetbacks
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
Sun Yat-sen
Chinese Leader
I am a coolie and the son of a coolie. I was born with the poor, and I am still poor. My sympathies have always been with the struggling mass.
Quote examples
Sun Yat-sen
Chinese Leader
I am a coolie and the son of a coolie. I was born with the poor, and I am still poor. My sympathies have always been with the struggling mass.
Example 1 of 1
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