Reading of 起き上がり小法師


In particular, of the `小法師` part.

I this
[article](http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/gourmet/food/kanmi/20120107-OYT8T00418.htm),
we have `小法師` as `こぼうし` in the title, which makes sense to me given the kanji.
However, upon looking up `起き上がり小法師`, I find the reading `おきあがりこぼし`(without the
う) (found in multiple dictionaries and it's the first suggested reading on
Wikipedia).

Why is there this discrepancy?

Presumably it's just a change in sound from ぼうし to ぼし, but are there many
words where a long vowel is shortened in this way?




As you surmised, it is just an sound change: the long vowel shortened. This is
made clear by recorded early citations. Earlier citations for okiagari kobōshi
--with the long vowel--may be found from mid-Muromachi texts. (For example
"Jippon Ōgi" 十本扇.) Early citations for okiagari koboshi--with the short vowel
--may be found from early Edo period. (For example "Kyōgonki" 狂言記.)

The word kobōshi also exists. Early citations from the 10th century. Note that
there does not seem to be a corresponding *koboshi, though. That may give a
hint as to why okiagari koboshi came about: to distinguish this self-righting
dharma doll from "a young monk" (kobōshi). But that is only a guess.

In modern Japanese, the version with the short vowel is most common. That is
why you will likely find in regular dictionaries.

For the record, you may also find the following expressions as well: okikaeri
kobōshi and okiyagari / okyagari koboshi, all with the same meaning.




As you surmised, it is just an sound change: the long vowel shortened. This is
made clear by recorded early citations. Earlier citations for okiagari kobōshi
--with the long vowel--may be found from mid-Muromachi texts. (For example
"Jippon Ōgi" 十本扇.) Early citations for okiagari koboshi--with the short vowel
--may be found from early Edo period. (For example "Kyōgonki" 狂言記.)

The word kobōshi also exists. Early citations from the 10th century. Note that
there does not seem to be a corresponding *koboshi, though. That may give a
hint as to why okiagari koboshi came about: to distinguish this self-righting
dharma doll from "a young monk" (kobōshi). But that is only a guess.

In modern Japanese, the version with the short vowel is most common. That is
why you will likely find in regular dictionaries.

For the record, you may also find the following expressions as well: okikaeri
kobōshi and okiyagari / okyagari koboshi, all with the same meaning.

