Definitions for "Socage"
Keywords:  tenure, feudal, fealty, knight, rent
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.
a free, heritable tenure generally by a money rent.
A form of feudal tenure in which the land was held in return for money rent. Although no knight service was required, the tenant still had to do fealty to the King. Also called Scutage (shield money) where the owner of the land paid instead of fighting for the king.