socage

or soc·cage

[ sok-ij ]

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

/ 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

Derived Forms

• ˈsocager, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of socage¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of socage¹

C14: from Anglo-French, from soc soke

Example Sentences

It empowered persons possessed of land in free socage to give or devise same for the maintenance of the poor.

From Project Gutenberg

All future tenures created by the king to be in free and common socage, reserving rents to the Crown and also fines on alienation.

From Project Gutenberg

Some of them as tenants in free socage may maintain their position; many fall down into the class of tenants in villeinage.

From Project Gutenberg

The agricultural services of the socage tenants had long disappeared.

From Project Gutenberg

Soc′ager, Soc′man, a tenant by socage; Soc′manry, tenure by socage.

From Project Gutenberg