Also 8 josse, 9 jos. [app. derived from Pg. deos god: cf. in same sense Du. joosje, dim. of *joos.
In Javanese, the name given to a Chinese idol or image is dejos, i.e., dēyos (Prof. Kern in De Indische Gids, XI. (1889), 1218), taken in 16th c. from Pg. deos. Quot. 1771 (though erroneous in details) indicates how dejos might be reduced to jos. Hence the Du. and Eng. forms of the word. The latter has been carried from Bantam or Batavia to the Chinese seaports, where it has become the ‘pidgin’-English term; it is not Chinese, nor of Chinese origination.]
A Chinese figure of a deity, an idol. Loosely used of those of neighboring peoples.
1711. C. Lockyer, Acc. Trade India, 181 (Y.). I know but little of their Religion, more than that every Man has a small Joss or God in his own House.
1727. A. Hamilton, New Acc. E. Ind., II. liii. 266. Their Josses or Demi-gods are, some of human Shape, some of monstrous Figures.
1771. J. R. Forster, trans. Olof Toreen’s Voy. China (1750–52), in Osbeck’s Voy., etc. II. 232. The sailors, and even some books of voyages … call the pagodas, Yoss-houses: for, on enquiring of 2 Chinese for the name of the idol, he answers, Grande Yoss, instead of Gran Dios.
1849. Malcom, Trav., 29/1. The ‘Jos’ was delineated in a large picture surrounded by ornamental paper-hangings.
1899. F. T. Bullen, Log Sea-waif, 45. Desire of life made the poor fellow quite eloquent, but he might as well have appealed to a bronze joss.
b. Comb., as joss-candle, -god; joss-like adj.; joss-house, a Chinese temple or building for idol-worship; joss-paper, gold and silver paper, cut into the shape of coins and ingots and sometimes inscribed with prayers, burned by the Chinese at funerals and other religious ceremonies; joss-stick, a thin cylinder or stick of fragrant tinder mixed with clay, used by the Chinese as incense, etc.
1898. Tit-Bits, 21 May, 154/2. The avidity with which they polished off *joss candles was a sight for the gods.
1826. Hone, Every-day Bk., 28 Nov. I. 1526. A lion-like *jos-god figure, called Sing.
1771. *Yoss-house [see above].
1831. Edin. Rev., LIII. 224. On the panels of the jos house, or temple, are painted figures seated upon broadswords.
1869. Spectator, 6 Nov., 1290. To tax Chinamen to support churches was just as unfair as to tax Christians for the support of joss-houses.
1884. Miss Gordon Cumming, in Pall Mall Gaz., 11 Sept., 1/2. Quantities of *joss paper inscribed with prayers for good luck were burned on each altar.
1883. Mrs. Bishop, Sk. Malay Penins., iii. in Leisure Ho., 83/2. *Joss-sticks burn incessantly.
Hence Jossish a., resembling a joss, joss-like.
1834. Beckford, Italy, II. 159. A little jossish old woman, with a head as round as a humming-top.
