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 king shall not claim the wardship of any minor who holds lands by military tenure of a baron, on pretence that he also holds lands of the crown by socage or any other tenure.

From The Great Events by Famous Historians, Volume 06 (From Barbarossa to Dante) by Horne, Charles F. (Charles Francis)

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

From Legal Lore Curiosities of Law and Lawyers by Various

This Act provided that all lands should “be held in free and common socage according to the tenure of East Greenwich in England.”

From Ireland Under Coercion (2nd ed.) (1 of 2) (1888) by Hurlbert, William Henry

I have noticed several times that123 ancient demesne socage was connected in principle with the condition of things in Saxon times, immediately before the Conquest.

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

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