gasshō. A Japanese term meaning ‘to bring the palms together’ as in the Indian gesture of respectful salutation known as ‘añjali’. This is a gesture of respect between clerics and also a ritual gesture of worship. The term is also found in Chinese Buddhism under the Chinese pronunciation ‘ho-chang’.

A Dictionary of Buddhism, Oxford University Press, 2003, 2004 (which is available in electronic version from answer.com)