Also 6 sok-, 7–9 sock-. [ad. Anglo-Lat. socmannus, var. of sokemannus SOKEMAN.] One who holds land in socage.
α. 1579. Termes de la Ley, 171 b. Sokmans are the tenants in auncient demesne, that held their lands in Socage.
1651. W. G., trans. Cowel’s Inst., 94. These were stiled the Kings free Sockmans.
1738. Hist. View Crt. Exchequer, ii. 19. These Demesne Lands belonging to the Sockmen or Plowmen.
1843. Carlyle, Past & Pr., I. ix. The very sockmen with their chubby infants.
β. 1670. T. Blount, Law-Dict., s.v., The Tenants in ancient Demean seem most properly to be called Socmans.
1747. Carte, Hist. Eng., I. 436. How many freemen, socmen, villains,… were in each town, and manor.
1761. Hume, Hist. Eng., I. App. I. 97. The socmen, who were tenants that could not be removed at pleasure.
1865. Kingsley, Herew., xx. ‘You are our lord,’ shouted the socmen or tenants.
Hence Socmanry, = SOKEMANRY.
1818. in Todd.
