joss meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

joss

nounalso spelled Joss

UK /dʒɒs/ · US /dʒɔs/

Etymology From Chinese Pidgin English joss, from Macau Pidgin Portuguese, from Portuguese deus (“god”), from Latin deus (“god”), from Proto-Indo-European *deywós (“god/that which belongs to heaven”). Doublet of Tiw and Tyr.

A Chinese household divinity; a Chinese idol.

A heathen divinity.

Don't forget they're mostly just joss-worshipping heathen an' they don't get no kick out of the more classy breeds o' religion. Though I guess there ain't that much diff'rence. It ain't many's so Lord Almighty in theirselves that they don't need a joss of some sort, an' I guess it's what yu think about him matters not the sort o' joss.1939, Philip George Chadwick, The Death Guard, pages 111–112:

Informal Luck.

She had twisted a piece of heather into her mail box for good joss, and this was the safety signal.1977, John Le Carré, The Honourable Schoolboy, Folio Society, published 2010, page 178:

Synonyms: chance, fortune
Derived terms: joss stick, joss paper, joss house
Related terms: joss-block

Joss

verb

Etymology Verb usage evolved from the name of Joss Whedon, creator of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Firefly.

Lifestyle Slang To invalidate a fan theory or original element of a fanwork through the introduction of new canon or retconning.

Author's note part 2: I'm leaving it to the imagination of the reader what Cordelia saw of her future. Writing that out would be asking to be Jossed.2000 December 25, Shanna, “Holiday at the Hyperion (2/2)”, in alt.tv.buffy-v-slayer.creative (Usenet):
I have this pet theory which will no doubt be Jossed (Greenwalted?) sooner or later. That Wes's dad is not a Watcher, but someone wealthy and financially connected with the Council (if they have all that influence, at least some of the people involved must know who they are)--in short, some kind of profiteer in the war against the forces of evil.2001 October 20, Sarah Trombley, “Re: Cut Scenes from Carpe Noctem Script”, in alt.tv.angel (Usenet):

1 more example

Even if your pet subject was "Jossed" by HBP (in other words, your theorizing was annihalated^([sic]) or impacted by a canon development) we'd love to have your archival works on HPInkPot - just select "pre-HBP" in the "when was this work written?" section.2005 December 5, heidi8 [username], “New Essay Archive at HPInkPot.com”, in alt.fan.harry-potter (Usenet):