Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SOC'AGE, n. [from soc, supra, a privilege.]

In English law, a tenure of lands and tenements by a certain or determinate service; a tenure distinct from chivalry or knight's service, in which the render was uncertain. The service must be certain, in order to be denominated socage; as to hold by fealty and twenty shillings rent. – Blackstone. Socage is of two kinds; free socage, where the services are not only certain, but honorable; and villein socage, where the services, though certain, are of a baser nature. – Blackstone.