coolie

noun

coo·​lie ˈkü-lē How to pronounce coolie (audio)
usually offensive
: an unskilled laborer or porter usually in or from the Far East hired for low or subsistence wages

Word History

Etymology

Hindi & Urdu qulī

First Known Use

1622, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of coolie was in 1622

Dictionary Entries Near coolie

Cite this Entry

“Coolie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coolie. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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