1. an unskilled laborer, especially in Asian countries
Usage: often considered offensive; historical

Examples

• The term coolie was historically used to describe manual laborers in colonial Asia.
• Many coolies worked on plantations and construction projects in the 19th century.
• The word is now considered offensive and inappropriate in modern usage.
• Historical records document the harsh conditions faced by coolie workers.
• Modern scholars study the coolie labor system as part of colonial history.