coolie
UK[ˈkuːli]US[ˈkuːli]
n
An unskilled native labourer in some Asian countries, especially one employed in heavy physical work.
Etymology
The word 'coolie' entered English in the 17th century from Hindi and possibly other South Asian languages like Tamil, where terms like 'kūlī' or 'qulī' referred to a hired servant or labourer. It was adopted by European colonial powers to describe indentured or low-wage labourers from Asia, particularly those transported to work on plantations and railways across the British Empire and other regions. The term's journey reflects the colonial economic systems of labour migration and has acquired historical and often derogatory connotations associated with exploitation and racial discrimination.
Analysis
The word is a loanword and is not productively formed from separable English morphemes.
Examples
The railway was built by thousands of coolies in the 19th century.
Historical accounts describe the harsh conditions faced by coolies on sugar plantations.
The term is now considered offensive and archaic.