How Do You Spell SOCCAGE?

1. Soccage refers to a feudal tenure or the specific form of land tenure prevalent in medieval Europe. It describes a system where land is held by tenants subjected to certain agricultural or labor obligations in return for their right to occupy the land. The term can be traced back to the Latin word "socagium," which translates to "service of plowing" or "cultivation."

   Under the soccage system, the tenant, known as a socman, would typically be obliged to perform certain duties for the lord of the manor, such as working the land, providing a percentage of their crops, or rendering specific services. These obligations often included obligatory tasks such as plowing, harvesting, and maintaining the lord's land. In exchange, the tenants would have the right to live on and utilize the land for their own livelihood.

   Unlike some other feudal tenure systems, soccage did not require military service from the tenant. Instead, the obligations were primarily centered around agricultural work and production. Soccage tenure was typically seen as a less burdensome form of land tenure compared to others, providing a level of security and stability for the tenant.

   Over time, soccage became less significant as feudalism declined and new systems of land tenure emerged. However, its historical importance lies in understanding the socio-economic structures of medieval European society and how land ownership and use were organized during that period.

2. A tenure of land by inferior services in husbandry-that is, by the plough, to be rendered to the lord of the fee; tenure by any certain or determinate service.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for SOCCAGE

The word "soccage" has its origins in Medieval Latin.

It can be traced back to the Latin word "socagium" or "soccagium", which was derived from the Old English "sōcn", meaning "liberty" or "jurisdiction", and the Latin suffix "-agium", denoting "right" or "property".

In medieval feudal systems, soccage referred to a form of tenure, or the condition of holding land from a lord in exchange for agricultural or other services. This type of land tenure was more flexible than strict military service, making it appealing to peasants and commoners.

Over time, the term "soccage" evolved and became associated with a system of fixed agricultural services or dues. Eventually, it entered into English law and was used specifically to describe a tenure held by agricultural services.

Plural form of SOCCAGE is SOCCAGES