opslag, noun

/ˈɔpslax/
Forms:
Also opslaag.
Origin:
AfrikaansShow more Afrikaans, a rise or increase; a self-sown plant.
1.
a. noncount. Short-lived vegetation which springs up in dry regions after rain. Also attributive.
1871 F.W. Reitz in Cape Monthly Mag. III. Sept. 145The destruction of more lasting grasses, and the increase of what we call ‘opslag’ grass, is accounted for by over-stocking.
1872 E.J. Dunn in A.M.L. Robinson Sel. Articles from Cape Monthly Mag. (1978) 51That rapid spring vegetation known as ‘Opslag’.
[1890 A. Martin Home Life 95All these plants, which are of many different kinds, and some of which possess very minute and pretty flowers, are indiscriminately called by the Dutch opslaag (‘that which comes up’).]
1918 J.W. Bews Grasses & Grasslands of S. Afr. 103After rains, they (sc. the grasses) tend to spread very quickly forming part of the ‘opslag’ type of vegetation.
[1920 E.H.L. Schwarz Kalahari; or, Thirstland Redemption 138In South Africa.., one sees after rain the original vegetation spring up, green and tender, among the hardy, permanent bushes; this ‘opslag’, as the Boers call it, is very short-lived, for in a few days the hot winds come and wither it up.]
1937 Handbk for Farmers (Dept of Agric. & Forestry) 399Grazing available is the ‘opslag’ (chiefly annuals) which comes up on braaklands, stubble-lands and ‘ouland’.
1970 Cape Times 6 MayThey are especially glad that the first young shoots have started growing...Stock are voracious..feeders on this opslag.
b. rare With plural opslags. A self-sown plant.
1979 Weekend Post 31 Mar. (Family Post) 6It seems strange that these ‘opslags’ are frequently tougher and more resistant to adverse conditions than those which are specially sown, planted out, staked, sprayed, watered and fed.
2. noncount. Obsolete except in historical contexts. The preliminary upward bidding at a Dutch-style auction; cf. afslag. Also attributive. See also strykgeld.
1927 [see strykgeld].
1965 A. Gordon-Brown S. Afr. Heritage IV. 12The method of selling a house or farm was unusual. First it was put up by opslag, that is by advancing the bids in the usual way. But the highest bidder to whom it was knocked down did not wish to be the purchaser; his function was to help the auctioneer to increase the final selling price and for this he received a bonus or strykgeld. Next the property was sold by afslag, or downward bidding...The final figure was generally well in advance of the opslag bid, but should it fail to reach that amount the man who had received the strykgeld was compelled to become the buyer at that figure.
1981 P. Dane Great Houses of Constantia 119First the house..came up for sale, by the traditional method of ‘opslag en afslag’ — the rise and fall of the hammer, where the bidding opens twice and the best price is accepted.
Short-lived vegetation which springs up in dry regions after rain. Also attributive.
A self-sown plant.
The preliminary upward bidding at a Dutch-style auction;
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rare or nonce
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opskud, verb intransitivev.opstal, nounn.
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