joss-pidgin-man, n. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

joss-pidgin-man n.

also joss-house-man, joss-pigeon

[SE joss-man, a priest of a Chinese religion, ult. joss, a Chinese idol or image; thus luck (f. Pidgin version of Port. deos, god). Note RN use jossman, Plymouth gin, which carried a picture of a monk on the bottle]

a clergyman, esp. a missionary.

1886		Yule & Burnell Hobson-Jobson (1996) 464/2: Thus also in ‘pidgin’ Joss-house-man or Joss-pidgin-man is a priest, or a missionary.
a.1889		‘The Rebel Pig’ in Barrère & Leland Dict. of Sl., Jargon and Cant I 508/1: Joss-man he smilee / An’ talk ‘you be one flatteler,’ / When dey talkey pig look all-samee like he joss-pidgin-nan .
1898		F.W. Hume Hagar of the Pawn-Shop 78: He was a priest in the war-god’s temple, I reckon. I’ve seen him do joss-pigeon a dozen times.