socage

SOC'AGE, noun [from soc, supra, a privilege.] In English law, a tenure of lands and tenements by a cetain or determinate service; a tenure distinct from chivalry or knight's service, in which the render was uncertain. The service must be certain, in order to be denominated socage; as to hold by fealty and twenty shillings rent. 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.