Joss

The word derives from Anglo-Chinese Pidgin English from the early 18th century and originally meant an idol and was a word picked up and used by sailors. Later, during the 19th century, joss came to mean luck and there was good joss and bad joss. The burning of joss sticks, a form of Chinese incense, was all part of the superstition to promote good luck. Joss sticks are first attested in English from 1883.