Socage

Hist. A type of tenure in which a tenant held lands in exchange for providing the lord husbandry-related (rather than military) service. *Socage, the great residuary tenure, was any free tenure that did not fall within the definition of knight-service, serjeanty, or frankalmoin.

free socage. Socage in which the services were both certain and honorable.
villein socage. Socage in which the services, though certain, were of a baser nature than those provided under free socage.

Soc"age (?), n.[From Soc; cf. LL. socagium.] O.Eng.Law

A tenure of lands and tenements by a certain or determinate service; a tenure distinct from chivalry or knight's service, in which the obligations were uncertain. The service must be certain, in order to be denominated socage, as to hold by fealty and twenty shillings rent.

[Written also soccage.]

⇒ Socage is of two kinds; free socage, where the services are not only certain, but honorable; and villein socage, where the services, though certain, are of a baser nature.

Blackstone.

 

© Webster 1913.