joss stick

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

Origin of joss stick

First recorded in 1880–85

joskin, jospin, josquin des prés, joss, joss house, joss stick, josser, jostle, josue, jot, jota

Sometimes he would burn a joss-stick beneath its branches and kneel down and pray.

Myths & Legends of Japan |F. Hadland (Frederick Hadland) Davis
She then returned with the joss-stick in her hand, and gave it to her husband, who was kneeling on the hearth-rug.

The Mandarin's Fan |Fergus Hume
Somebody lighted a Chinese joss-stick, perhaps to kill the aroma of defunct cigarettes.

Iole |Robert W. Chambers
There's always a little bit of it smouldering in my heart like a joss-stick.

Arundel |Edward Frederic Benson

"That is true," said Hwei dropping the joss-stick, and sat in his chair with a puzzled face.

The Mandarin's Fan |Fergus Hume

joss stick

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