Pronunciation: [sˈɒke͡ɪd͡ʒ] (IPA) 
The word "socage" is spelled /'sɒkɪdʒ/ in IPA phonetic transcription. It is a legal term referring to a feudal tenure that requires the tenant to render agricultural service or pay a fixed rent. The word comes from the Old French "socage" and was introduced to English during the Middle Ages. The spelling of the word has remained relatively unchanged over time, although variations such as "sokage" and "soccage" have been recorded.
Socage is a legal and feudal term that refers to a form of land tenure or landholding system prevalent in medieval Europe. Under socage, individuals or families were granted the use and possession of land in exchange for certain services or obligations to the feudal lord. It was generally considered to be a more favorable or privileged form of tenure compared to other feudal arrangements, such as military obligations or the performance of agricultural labor.
In socage, the tenant had specific duties or services to perform, typically in the form of agricultural work, manual labor, or monetary payments. These services were usually fixed and non-military in nature, such as providing the lord with a set number of days' labor or paying an agreed-upon amount of rent. The obligations of socage holders often included maintaining the land, cultivating crops, and providing certain goods or services to the lord or his estate.
Socage tenures were generally hereditary and could be passed down to the tenant's heirs. This aspect of socage made it a secure and stable form of land ownership compared to other forms of feudal tenure.
Over time, the importance and prevalence of socage diminished as societies transitioned away from feudalism and adopted more modern and equitable systems of land ownership. However, the concept of socage remains historically significant as it represents a significant aspect of medieval land tenure and the complex relationship between landlords and tenants.
The word "socage" originates from the Old French term "soc", which means "plowshare" or "plow". In feudal times, socage referred to a form of land tenure in which the tenant paid rent by providing agricultural services, such as plowing the lord's land. The word eventually made its way into Middle English and has been preserved in legal and historical contexts to denote this specific type of feudal land tenure.
