soken

See also: sōken

English

Etymology

From Middle English sookne, socne (district held by a socage) (> Medieval Latin sōca (right of jurisdiction), see soke), from Old English sōcn (jurisdiction, prosecution, soke, literally act of seeking), from Proto-Germanic *sōkniz (seeking, inquiry), from Proto-Indo-European *sekʷ- (to follow, track). Akin to Gothic 𐍃𐍉𐌺𐌽𐍃 (sokns, controversy), Old English sacu (legal case, dispute), sēcan (to seek), Swedish socken (parish), Danish sogn (parish). More at sake, seek, soke.

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

Anagrams


Middle English

Noun

soken

  1. Alternative form of souken

Tok Pisin

Etymology

From English stocking.

Noun

soken

  1. stocking
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