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

See Examples For:

joss house

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 Rudyard Kipling

Every joss house will be the head of a secret society.

From From Sea to Sea Letters of Travel by Rudyard Kipling

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

From The Readjustment by Will Irwin

Here there were two secret rooms where there had once been a private joss house conducted by the Chinese "Tong" or guild known as the Brother of the Red Door.

From The Bradys' Chinese Clew The Secrect Dens of Pell Street by Francis Worcester Doughty

But it was not to the little joss house that Signor Baskinelli guided the party.

From The Perils of Pauline by Charles Goddard