Stick Josephine next to ship (4)

I believe the answer is:

joss

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'stick' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?

'josephine next to ship' is the wordplay.
'josephine' becomes 'jo' (I've seen this in other clues).
'next' says to put letters next to each other (I've seen this in other clues).
'to ship' becomes 'ss' (prefix in ship names eg SS Great Britain).
'jo'+'ss'='JOSS'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for joss that I've seen before include "An idol; incense (stick)" , "Fate" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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