joss stick

American  

noun

1. a slender stick of a dried, fragrant paste, burned by the Chinese as incense before a joss.

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joss stick British  

noun

1. a stick of dried perfumed paste, giving off a fragrant odour when burnt as incense

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Etymology

Origin of joss stick

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

At one end of the living room of a Formosan cottage, incense from a burning joss stick rose fragrantly before an image of Buddha.

From Time Magazine Archive

So Harry stood waiting while the joss stick throwing went merrily on.

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

Then he looked again, Olivia placed the still fizzling joss stick in the fender, and peered over his shoulder.

From The Mandarin's Fan by Hume, Fergus

"Evidently he is not acquainted with the peculiar smell of a joss stick."

From Number Seventeen by Tracy, Louis

For quite ten minutes Ainsleigh continued waving, until the joss stick burnt down nearly to the root.

From The Mandarin's Fan by Hume, Fergus