To wonder what the word Courting actually means?

[likalixer]

When I give my elderly MIL lifts, she often whimsically points to a set of hills and says:
''That's where me and FIL did most of our Courting''

What does she mean?

Part of my mind thinks courting probably means romantic walks and trips to the 'pictures' - you know, lots of wooing and nice clean sepia-tinted in my mind stuff going on and the other part is thinking courting = is fancy word for shagging .

Lots of elderly people talk about courting.
What was MIL really doing up in them thar hills?

Dating.

It depends on the individual. Some of them just kissed and cuddled in the back row of the cinema. Some of them had sex.

Hope that helps.

Depending on age of MIL, there might not have been shagging (unreliable and difficult to access contraception, plus all sorts of strong taboos in mid-20 century).

But yes, long country walks, profound conversation and, once far enough away from prying eyes, heavy petting.

Ah, dating sounds nice and innocent !

I remember my great gran saying that the main purpose of bracken on hills was to hide the courting couples from prying eyes.

I suppose they didn't have access to the back seat of cars back then.

According to Urban Dictionary:

Dating is for fun. Courting is for marriage.

Traditionally Courting would include no sexual activity but today that is not usually followed.

Courting is being with someone you have the intention of marrying.

A pony and trap doesn't have a back seat.

Ye olden times euphemism for premarital bumsex.

Hth

Goes nicely with, stepping out.

Ye olden times euphemism for premarital bumsex

This is what I'm wondering.
I'm thinking that we possibly have a rose-tinted, overly-romantic view of what Courting really meant.
When in actual fact, they were all at it like rabbits in the hills

As my mother likes to toe curlingly point out:

''you lot weren't the first to invent sex you know""

Haha!! "Stepping out!"

Stepping out.
Sounds very poash.

I am a big fan of stepping out

Dating. My grandma used to use that word.

Dating with a view to marriage.

Long walks and other free activities because the bloke was saving up for an engagement ring.

Dating.

My parents still use the word as do I. I am old 40's.

My extended family used to use the term, they are all gone now
I can remember the old question "are you not courting yet? I was only 18 and more bothered shagging around than settling down.
I didn't tell them as could you imagine the faces.
I also have a book all about couting, looks out of the dark ages.
Haven't looked at it yet but always said I would.

It just means dating

It does seem a bit cringe worthy and dated and something nobody under the age of 100 would use.

''Are you Courting yet?''