51Թ

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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

/ ˈːɪ /

noun

  1. a cheaply hired unskilled Oriental labourer
  2. derogatory.
    an Indian living in South Africa
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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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.
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of coolie1

First recorded in 1545–55; from Urdu ūī, from Tamil ū “hire, hireling”
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of coolie1

C17: from Hindi ܱī, probably of Dravidian origin; related to Tamil ū hire, hireling

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