I got a real kick out of coming across this story in your column as I never did understand the origin of “skosh.” My father always used it, especially in regards to the TV volume, “Could you turn it up just a skosh?” He also served 25 years in the military, which probably explains where he picked up the term.
I heard that it was a Canadian slang term, based on the phrase “Scoot over a bit” (as in “make more room on the hockey bench, eh, Scoots over!”… It became :Scootch" as it is too hard to prononce the whole sentecne with no teeth, while drunk… (BTW< I am a Canadian…)
Regards
FML"
I think “scootch” as you are using it here is completely different from “skosh” as addressed in Cecil’s column. Both are perfectly valid slang terms, but with different meanings.
I don’t buy the timeline on this one. I have a recording of Nat King Cole from 1943 (Jumpin’ At Capitol, Capitol Records) callled “If You Can’t Smile and Say Yes (Please Don’t Cry and Say No)” in which he implores the listener to “Squeeze me a skosh in these fine clothes” at around 0:36. Looks a bit older than the Korean war.
Cecil could have been more polite. Now we’ll never know what a Clog Palace is.
<sigh>
Hmmm, maybe Google…
YOu’re correct. It was picked up from the Japanese. But in or around WWII.
Common military usage post WWII from Occupation of Japan, like “mamma-san”. From Japanese “sukoshi”, mean a small amount, a little.