joss
- noun
- /dʒɑs/
- Archaic
- The shop sells beautiful joss images that are used in various ceremonies.
- joss sticks
- joss incense
- candles and joss
Examples
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Many people visited the temple to light joss sticks as offerings to the gods.
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Burning joss sticks attracts ghosts, who consume the smoke and destroy the fortunes of the family.
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Now run along and burn some joss for me.
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You light that joss stick holder over there.
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Struan has always had the most fantastic joss.
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The Tai-Pan has fantastic joss.
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Thee be my joss.
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Probably, sprawled on the bed, a joss stick burning to keep away the mosquitoes, memorizing her collection of picture books.
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The ash crumbled among the roots; the knots were crammed with old joss sticks like strange blooms.
Fiction book (2000) -
During the festival, they burned joss in front of the altar to honor their ancestors.
Synonyms
The chief god in Roman myths, like the Greek god Zeus
An old poetic name for Jesus often used in hymns and prayers
Compounds
How Sacred
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word joss came into English during early trade with China and probably comes from a foreign word for 'god', such as Portuguese deus. So a joss is a Chinese 'idol' or religious image that people worship.