also: こうしょ
noun
collation; textual comparison
Rare term for comparing a text against the original or another version to check for errors; synonymous with 校合.
See also: 校合
古い写本の校書には細心の注意が必要だ。
Collating old manuscripts requires meticulous care.
noun
Only with reading こうしょ
Archaic term for a geisha, used only with the reading こうしょ.
江戸時代の文献に「校書」をこうしょと読んで芸者を指す例がある。
In Edo-period documents, there are instances where 校書 is read as こうしょ and refers to a geisha.
校合 is a more common term for collation or textual comparison, while 校書 is rare and somewhat formal.
The derivation is uncertain. The kanji 校 means 'examine' or 'compare', and 書 means 'writing' or 'book', so the compound naturally suggests comparing texts. The archaic geisha sense may be an unrelated usage or a semantic extension, but the exact origin is unclear.