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.

---

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

---

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

See Examples For:

socage

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 W. Stewart (William Stewart) Wallace

In the history of socage and military tenure the system of unity arose gradually, and without any sudden break, out of the system of division.

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

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 Walter Stitt Robinson

It is a stepping-stone from villainage to socage, or rather to socman's tenure.

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

Aristocratic Denmark, before the peasant war of 1255-1258, subjected the free peasantry who had been leaseholders for a term of years to unlimited socage duty.

From Principles Of Political Economy by John J. (John Joseph) Lalor

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---