Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1600-1700
Language: Hindi
Origin: kuli

coolie

 noun
     
coo‧lie [countable] taboo old-fashioned
a very offensive word for an unskilled worker who is paid very low wages, especially in parts of Asia. Do not use this word.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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