joss house

American  

noun

1. a Chinese temple for idol worship.

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joss house British  

noun

1. a Chinese temple or shrine where an idol or idols are worshipped

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Etymology

Origin of joss house

First recorded in 1765–75

Example Sentences

A furnace is a necessity in a joss house.

From Complete Story of the San Francisco Horror by Linthicum, Richard

They passed out of the joss house and walked down Jackson street hill.

From The Bradys After a Chinese Princess The Yellow Fiends of 'Frisco by Doughty, Francis Worcester

The basement, was a handsome joss house: upstairs was a durbar-hall with glazed verandahs and ebony furniture ranged across the room in four straight lines.

From From Sea to Sea Letters of Travel by Kipling, Rudyard

When they mounted the joss house stairs she lagged behind; and Bertram lagged with her.

From The Readjustment by Irwin, Will

Harry assented, and to the new Jackson street joss house, the most important Chinese temple of America, they went.

From The Bradys After a Chinese Princess The Yellow Fiends of 'Frisco by Doughty, Francis Worcester