soke

American  

[sohk] / soʊk /

noun

Early English Law.

1. the privilege of holding court, usually connected with the feudal rights of lordship.

2. a district over which local jurisdiction was exercised.

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soke British  

/ səʊk /

noun

1. the right to hold a local court

2. the territory under the jurisdiction of a particular court

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Etymology

Origin of soke

1250–1300; Middle English < Anglo-Latin soca < Old English sōcn attack, right of prosecution, jurisdiction ( soken ); akin to sake ¹, seek

Example Sentences

This parish, like High Toynton and West Ashby, is in the soke of Horncastle. 

From A History of Horncastle from the earliest period to the present time by Walter, James Conway

As with other parishes in this soke, we find from a Feet of Fines, 9 Henry III.,

From A History of Horncastle from the earliest period to the present time by Walter, James Conway

I. given to the Deanery of York, w^th the soke thereof and all the chappells and tithes belonging.

From The Evolution of an English Town by Home, Gordon

In secret he wanted to speak, and he spoke: To seek with his lips what his heart had long soke; So he managed to let the truth leak, and it loke.

From English as She is Wrote Showing Curious Ways in which the English Language may be made to Convey Ideas or obscure them. by Anonymous

Henry VII., while confirming this charter in 1505, granted further that the burgesses should hold their town and soke with all the manors in the soke on payment of a fee farm.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 6 "Dodwell" to "Drama" by Various