Etymology of Skosh

[Douglas G. Wilson]

>A friend of mine who had been sailor in the Pacific Fleet used not only
>"skosh" but he also used "(i)kimasho" as a slang term for "let's go." I
>think that "ikimasho" and "kimasho" have pretty much the same meaning
>in Japanese, i.e. literally, "let's go," ....

"Ikimashou" is a form of "iku" = "go"; I think this is the polite form of
the probable mood, so more or less "[one] might go", or for practical
purposes often "let's go" ... according to my limited understanding.

"Kimashou" would be the comparable form of "kuru" = "come", I think. I
don't think this is so common. I think maybe "ikimashou" is what was intended.

["Ikiru" = "live", "kiru" = "wear [clothes]" would give similar words, I
guess.]

Anybody familiar with Japanese, please feel free to correct me.

-- Doug Wilson