A Joss is a Chinese term used to refer to a deity. It is used to describe a Chinese religious statue, object  , or idol in many Chinese folk religions. 
A Joss is an English term used to refer to a Chinese deity or idol. It generally describes a Chinese religious statue, object (such as joss paper) , or idol in many Chinese folk religions. Etymology The English designation "joss" first appeared in the 18th century as a reference to a Chinese idol. The term is usually explained as a borrowing from Portuguese deus, deos 'god' For instance, . The main objection to this rather uncorroborated connection with Portuguese deus/deos, is that it does not address the linguistic routes that would have allegedly led to the appearance of "joss", with its Chinese religious connotation. Most likely, the English form does describe an actual Chinese divinity, viz. the Di Zhu Shen 'Landlord Deity' ( 地主神), being the tutelary deity of the land (and heaven) and its inhabitants. Known under various epithets and names, this paternal god, who confers luck and wealth to his loyal worshippers, occupies a central position in the folk beliefs of many (overseas) Chinese communities. A similar form is also attested in Dutch as "joos" or "josie", which is a taboo form for the devil (often "corrected" to the less offensive sounding, personal name Joost). This was already noticed by Samuel Hull Wilcocke who translated the travelogues of the Dutch captain and explorer, John Splinter Stavorinus., to which he added the following remark in a footnote: "The images which the Chinese worship, are called joostje by the Dutch and joss by the English seamen. The latter is evidently a corruption of the former, which, being a Dutch nickname for the devil, was probably given to these idols by the Dutch who first saw them.". The slight difference in transcription of the English and Dutch forms perhaps reflects the pronunciation of the different Chinese communities settled in the East-Indies.:
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a Chinese
an English
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deity. It is used to describe
Chinese deity or idol. It generally describes
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(such as joss paper)
A
Etymology The English designation "joss" first appeared in the 18th century as a reference to a Chinese idol. The term is usually explained as a borrowing from Portuguese deus, deos 'god' For instance, . The main objection to this rather uncorroborated connection with Portuguese deus/deos, is that it does not address the linguistic routes that would have allegedly led to the appearance of "joss", with its Chinese religious connotation. Most likely, the English form does describe an actual Chinese divinity, viz. the Di Zhu Shen 'Landlord Deity' ( 地主神), being the tutelary deity of the land (and heaven) and its inhabitants. Known under various epithets and names, this paternal god, who confers luck and wealth to his loyal worshippers, occupies a central position in the folk beliefs of many (overseas) Chinese communities. A similar form is also attested in Dutch as "joos" or "josie", which is a taboo form for the devil (often "corrected" to the less offensive sounding, personal name Joost). This was already noticed by Samuel Hull Wilcocke who translated the travelogues of the Dutch captain and explorer, John Splinter Stavorinus., to which he added the following remark in a footnote: "The images which the Chinese worship, are called joostje by the Dutch and joss by the English seamen. The latter is evidently a corruption of the former, which, being a Dutch nickname for the devil, was probably given to these idols by the Dutch who first saw them.". The slight difference in transcription of the English and Dutch forms perhaps reflects the pronunciation of the different Chinese communities settled in the East-Indies.: