Simple English definitions for legal terms
Read a random definition: School District of Abington Township, Pennsylvania v. Schempp (1963)
Term: SOC
Definition: SOC is a word used in history to describe a special privilege given to a landowner to hold a tenant's court and have private jurisdiction over a certain area of land. This area is called a soke, soca, or sac. Another related term is faldage, which is a landowner's right to require tenants to graze their sheep in designated temporary folds so that the manure will fertilize the field. This can also refer to a sum of money paid by a sheep-owning tenant to the landowner in lieu of keeping the animals in the landowner's temporary fold.
Definition: SOC (sohkorsok), n. [Law Latin] Hist. 1. A liberty of exercising private jurisdiction; specifically, the privilege granted to a seigniory of holding a tenant's court. 2. The territory subject to such private jurisdiction. Also spelled soke; soca; sac. fold soc. See FALDAGE(1).
Example: In medieval England, a lord of a manor had the right to hold a court for his tenants, known as a "soc." This court had the power to settle disputes and enforce laws within the lord's territory.
Explanation: The example illustrates how a "soc" was a form of private jurisdiction granted to a lord of a manor. The lord had the power to hold a court for his tenants and enforce laws within his territory, which was known as a "soc." This was a common practice in medieval England.
Definition: Faldage (fahl-dij), n. Hist. 1. A landowner's right to require tenants to graze their sheep in designated temporary folds so that the manure will fertilize the field. Also termed foldage; fold soc. 2. A sum of money paid to the landowner by a sheep-owning tenant in lieu of keeping the animals in the landowner's temporary fold. Also termed faldfee.
Example: In feudal times, a landowner could require his tenants to graze their sheep in a designated temporary fold, known as "faldage." This helped to fertilize the land and improve crop yields. Alternatively, the tenant could pay a fee to the landowner in lieu of keeping their sheep in the fold.
Explanation: The example illustrates how "faldage" was a right granted to landowners to improve the fertility of their land. Tenants were required to graze their sheep in a designated fold, which helped to fertilize the land. Alternatively, the tenant could pay a fee to the landowner in lieu of keeping their sheep in the fold. This was a common practice in feudal times.