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

The proprietors held their land in free and common socage, and the planters in the Northern Neck paid quitrents and fees to the proprietors rather than to the crown.

From Mother Earth Land Grants in Virginia 1607-1699 by Robinson, Walter Stitt

Now this seems strange at first sight, because the usual and settled terminology treats villain socage as a peculiarity of ancient demesne.

From Villainage in England Essays in English Mediaeval History by Vinogradoff, Paul

By these drastic means the government kept the Eastern Townships a wilderness until after 1791, when the townships were granted out in free and common socage, and American settlers began to flock in.

From The United Empire Loyalists : A Chronicle of the Great Migration by Wallace, W. Stewart (William Stewart)

Gilbert de Segrave held the manor of Cotes in socage of the king "by paying yearly one bersethrigumnue."

From Notes and Queries, Number 234, April 22, 1854 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc. by Various

That system has recognized as many as seven forms of tenure—ward, socage, mortification, feu, blench, burgage, booking.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 3 "Fenton, Edward" to "Finistere" by Various