incognito palanquin for a daimyo or his wife
Historical term for a palanquin used when a daimyo or his wife traveled discreetly, without the usual retinue and formal trappings.
In the Edo period, when a daimyo went out incognito, he used an incognito palanquin.
The incognito palanquin was simply constructed to conceal the occupant's status.
Historical kanji spelling; the word is a specialized historical term.
Common modern spelling using お instead of 御.
Compound of 御 (honorific prefix) + 忍び (stealth, incognito) + 駕籠 (palanquin). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term clearly describes a palanquin for discreet travel.