JOSS

joss, in the pidgin-english of the chinese seaports, the name given to idols and deities. it is used adjectivally in regard to many things connected with religious rites, such as "joss-house," a temple; "joss-stick," a stick which when burned gives forth a fragrant odour and is used as incense; "joss-paper," paper cut to resemble money (and sometimes with prayers written upon it) burned in funeral and other ceremonies. "joss" is not a chinese word, and is probably a corruption of port. _deos_, god, applied by portuguese navigators in the 16th century to the idols worshipped in the east indies. the dutch form is _joosge_ (diminutive of _joos_), whence the javanese _dejos_, and the english _yos_, later _joss_. the word seems to have been carried to china by english seamen from batavia.