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joss

1

[ jos ]

noun

  1. a Chinese house idol or cult image.


joss

2

[ jos ]

noun

, British, Australian Informal.
  1. a foreman or boss.

joss

/ dʒɒs /

noun

  1. a Chinese deity worshipped in the form of an idol
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word History and Origins

Origin of joss1

1705–15; < Chinese Pidgin English < Portuguese deos < Latin deus god

Origin of joss2

First recorded in 1855–60; origin uncertain
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Word History and Origins

Origin of joss1

C18: from pidgin English, from Portuguese deos god, from Latin deus
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Example Sentences

Same for the fruit to set at my grandpa and grandma’s altar, as well as the joss paper to burn for their good fortune.

Other comments included: “One day soon, @joss_berry will regret having tweeted this. What a ghoulish tweet,” and “she is openly pushing violence on Twitter,” and “This is gonna cost her a job.”

Taiwan's Chen Kun-huei, 82, is determined to keep alive an ancient tradition of making the "joss paper" by hand even as others have shifted to automated production at factories.

From Reuters

On a beach in southern Taiwan, thousands gathered as volunteers hoisted a 45-foot boat, lavishly painted in gold and red, on top of a mountain of joss paper.

Residents can arrange funerals for departed animals complete with monks chanting last rites and a ceremony for burning joss paper so their spirits will live well in the afterlife.

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