socage

American  

[sok-ij] / ˈsɒk ɪdʒ /

Or soccage

noun

Medieval English Law.

1. a tenure of land held by the tenant in performance of specified services or by payment of rent, and not requiring military service.

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socage British  

/ ˈsɒkɪdʒ /

noun

1. English legal history the tenure of land by certain services, esp of an agricultural nature

2. English law the freehold tenure of land

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Other Word Forms

• socager noun

Etymology

Origin of socage

1275–1325; Middle English sokage < Anglo-French socage, equivalent to soc soke + -age -age

Example Sentences

Not in free and common socage, but in this amphibious subordinate class of villein socage.

From Project Gutenberg

As a classification of tenures the passage would not be complete, of course, since neither the important species of free socage recognised by Domesday nor the ancient demesne tenure appears.

From Project Gutenberg

This, of course, is but socage in effect, for it is no personal service, but a certain rent.

From Project Gutenberg

Burgage, bur′gāj, n. a tenure in socage for a yearly rent: a tenure in Scotland in royal burghs under nominal service of watching.

From Project Gutenberg

It is more correctly described as socage tenure, subject to the custom of gavelkind.

From Project Gutenberg