socage

Not in free and common socage, but in this amphibious subordinate class of villein socage.

As a classification of tenures the passage would not be complete, of course, since neither the important species of free socage recognised by Domesday nor the ancient demesne tenure appears.

This, of course, is but socage in effect, for it is no personal service, but a certain rent.

Burgage, bur′gāj, n. a tenure in socage for a yearly rent: a tenure in Scotland in royal burghs under nominal service of watching.

It is more correctly described as socage tenure, subject to the custom of gavelkind.