socage

Feudal tenure of land by a tenant in return for agricultural or other nonmilitary services or for payment of rent in money.

In law, a tenure of lands in England by the performance of certain determinate service: distinguished both from knight-service, in which the render was uncertain, and from villeinage, where the service was of the meanest kind: the only freehold tenure in England after the abolition of military tenures.

A tenure of lands and tenements by a certain or determinate service; a tenure distinct from chivalry or knight’s service, in which the obligations were uncertain. The service must be certain, in order to be denominated socage, as to hold by fealty and twenty shillings rent.

In the Middle Ages, a system whereby a tenant would pay a rent or do some agricultural work for the landlord.

land tenure by agricultural service or payment of rent; not burdened with military service