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.

---

soke British  

/ səʊk /

noun

1. the right to hold a local court

2. the territory under the jurisdiction of a particular court

---

Etymology

Origin of soke

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

Example Sentences

The old English Cnichtenagild surrendered their soke of Aldgate as a site for the new priory of the Holy Trinity.

From History of the English People, Volume I Early England, 449-1071; Foreign Kings, 1071-1204; The Charter, 1204-1216 by Green, John Richard

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

The Fitzwalters are said to have come over with the Conqueror, and to have been invested with the soke before mentioned by his favour and in requital of their services.

From The Customs of Old England by Snell, F. J. (Frederick John)

The long-winded speaker, he spoke; The poor office seeker, he soke; The runner, he ran; The dunner, he dan; And the shrieker, he horribly shroke.

From Buchanan's Journal of Man, November 1887 Volume 1, Number 10 by Buchanan, Joseph R. (Joseph Rodes)

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