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

See Examples For:

joss stick

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

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

From Number Seventeen by Tracy, Louis

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

The joss stick smoked slowly and a queer odour diffused itself though the room.

From The Mandarin's Fan by Hume, Fergus

Got some signal, you bet!" said the driver; "some yeller paper or piece o' joss stick in the road.

From From Sand Hill to Pine by Harte, Bret