coolie
/ˈkuːli/
noun
- A historical term for an unskilled laborer from Asia, especially China or India, often used in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The word is now considered offensive and derogatory.
- Many coolies were brought to work on railroads and plantations under harsh conditions.
- Historians study the experiences of coolie laborers to understand migration patterns.
- The term 'coolie' is now recognized as a racial slur and should be avoided.