joss stick

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

joss stick
    n 1: a slender stick of incense burned before a joss by the
         Chinese

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Joss \Joss\ (j[o^]s), n. [Chinese, corrupt. fr. Pg. deos God, L.
   deus.]
   A Chinese household divinity; a Chinese idol. "Critic in jars
   and josses." --Colman (1761).
   [1913 Webster]

   {Joss house}, a Chinese temple or house for the Chinese mode
      of worship.

   {Joss stick}, a reed covered with a paste made of the dust of
      odoriferous woods, or a cylinder made wholly of the paste;
      -- burned by the Chinese before an idol.
      [1913 Webster]