opsit, noun

/ˈɔpsət/
Forms:
Also opzit.
Origin:
AfrikaansShow more Afrikaans, from opsit verb intransitive
obs. except in historical contexts
Courtship; a courtship visit. See also upsitting.
1882 J. Nixon Among Boers 211He takes stock of all the marriageable lasses in the neighbourhood, and when he has found one to his liking he pays a state visit to the house of the fair creature’s parents, and undergoes what is called an ‘opzit’.
1928 N. Stevenson Afr. Harvest 177If she isn’t keen on Koos it doesn’t really matter...They can begin the opsit at once, and marry soon after.
1932 N. Stevenson Farmers of Lekkerbat 127Uncle Eloff told Gys that Caroline was willing and that they could arrange the opsit when they pleased.
1940 F.B. Young City of Gold 141The scene revealed by the light of guttering candles which Sarie had selected to cover the duration of her opsit was one of the most decorous propriety.
1955 V. De Kock Fun They Had 27Among the farming community a direct method of courting was observed. It was called Opsit.
1965 K. Mackenzie Deserter 33The first opsit had been a slow, shy-making affair in which they had punctuated long silences with little bits of polite conversation.
Courtship; a courtship visit.
Entry Navigation

Visualise Quotations

Quotation summary

Senses

18821965

Browse Related Words

By Category

Family and Social Relationships

By Origin

Afrikaans

By Usage

obsolete or obsolescent
opsaal, verb intransitivev.opsit, verb intransitivev.
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Unit for South African English