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Webster 1913 Edition


Soken

Sok′en

,
Noun.
[Cf.
Socome
.]
1.
A toll. See
Soc
,
Noun.
, 2.
[Obs.]
Great
sooken
had this miller, out of doubt.
Chaucer.
2.
A district held by socage.

Definition 2024


soken

soken

See also: sōken

English

Noun

soken (plural sokens)

  1. The ancient right (usually conferred by royalty) to hold a local court of justice and levy specific fees and fines. A 'soke' or 'soken' was the area over which this right was established. More specifically, the 'resort' (right) of specific farmers to have their grain ground at a specific mill or, inversely, the right of a mill to that custom. Also, specifically, a right of prosecution and judgement. Older meanings include a place that is regularly frequented. The word 'soken' is used in Stow (1598) in a way that implies regular usage / clear meaning, e.g. with reference to Portsoken Ward, outside the walls of the City of London which originated as a 'liberty' (a practically synonymous term) for a guild of knights.

References

  • Webster's Dictionary
  • Oxford English Dictionary
  • Stow's Survey of London

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