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joss

joss

4 9.9
A painted statue of a god people pray to in Chinese temples and homes
  • noun
  • /dʒɑs/
  • Archaic
translation icon : ídolo
  • The shop sells beautiful joss images that are used in various ceremonies.
  • joss sticks
  • joss incense
  • candles and joss

Examples

  • Many people visited the temple to light joss sticks as offerings to the gods.

  • Burning joss sticks attracts ghosts, who consume the smoke and destroy the fortunes of the family.

  • Now run along and burn some joss for me.

  • You light that joss stick holder over there.

  • Struan has always had the most fantastic joss.

  • The Tai-Pan has fantastic joss.

  • Thee be my joss.

  • Probably, sprawled on the bed, a joss stick burning to keep away the mosquitoes, memorizing her collection of picture books.

  • 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

Jove
vsjoss
  • Archaic
9 9.9

The chief god in Roman myths, like the Greek god Zeus

refers to locally worshipped images or idols in East Asian folk religion
Jesu
vsjoss
  • Archaic
1 9.9

An old poetic name for Jesus often used in hymns and prayers

refers to worshipped images or idols rather than a named personal figure

Compounds

1 8.2

A thin stick of incense burned in temples or homes during prayers

joss house
  • Archaic
9.9

A Chinese temple where people burn incense and give offerings to statues

How Sacred

deity
62 7.4
joss
  • Archaic
4 9.9
amulet
81 7.2
statue
381 1.0

Surface Forms

joss singular
josses plural

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.