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coolie Definition

coo·lie (ko̵̅o̅)

noun

  1. an unskilled native laborer, esp. formerly, in India, China, etc.
  2. a person doing heavy labor for little pay

Etymology: Hindi qulī, hired servant, prob. < kolī, name of a tribe or caste of Gujarat

coolie Usage Examples

Converse of subject

lead: Three travelers on the bridge, one on horseback led by a coolie.

Adjective modifier

  • Chinese: On the scaffold were approximately 20 Chinese coolies who were painting the side of the ship.
  • local: Henry Hsu organized local coolies to help carry the supplies.
  • Burmese: Some were occupied by POWs and others by Burmese coolies.

Modifies a noun

  • hat: Coolie hats were another popular element of Teddy Girl style.
  • camp: It then ran through a coolie camp where also there was cholera.

Noun used with modifier

rickshaw: There may be a mission for rickshaw coolies, hut there can never be a church for rickshaw coolies.

Browse dictionary entries near coolie

  1. Coolidge
  2. coolheaded
  3. Cooley's anemia
  4. cooler
  5. coolant
  6. cool it
  7. cool-down
  8. cool
  9. cooky
  10. cookware
  1. cooling degree day
  2. cooling-off period
  3. coolth
  4. coomb
  5. coon
  6. coon cat
  7. coon's age
  8. cooncan
  9. coonskin
  10. coontie