socage

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   historical law: land tenure in return for agricultural services fixed in amount and kind or for money rent, rather than military service

   The colonial grant was held in free socage, with rent due but no obligation of knight service.

From Middle English sokage, through Anglo-Norman socage and Old French soc or soke, ultimately from Old English socn, 'jurisdiction or right of inquiry.' The suffix -age formed the name of the tenure or service associated with that legal right.

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