cúli
Macanese edit
Etymology edit
Most likely from English coolie, from Hindustani क़ुली / قلی (qulī, “hired laborer”), possibly from Ottoman Turkish قول (kul, “servant”).
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
cúli
- coolie, rickshaw or trishaw carrier
- Chomâ quanto cúli para cartá tudo ancuza ― Call for a few coolies to carry everything
- (derogatory) useless person, person of no worth
Derived terms edit
- cabéça-di-cúli (“stevedore at the docks and markets responsible for a team of coolies”, literally “head of coolies”)
References edit
Portuguese edit
Alternative forms edit
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
cúli m (plural cúlis)
- coolie (unskilled Asian worker)