Wordwyrt

coolie

Meaninga hired labourer

Common meaning: a hired labourer in Asia

Other meanings: now regarded as a slur

Journey through time

  1. Hindustanikuli‘a labourer, a porter’source
  2. Early English spellingcooleysource
  3. Englishcoolie‘a hired labourer in Asia’ · today

Sources & notes

Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.

Pronunciation

  • UK IPA: not available. Respelling: generated.
  • US IPA: not available. Respelling: generated.

Origin: Built on Hindustani kuli ‘a hired labourer’.

Roots

  • kuli Hindustani “a hired labourer”

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