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.