heirloom
/ˈɛːluːm
/noun
1A valuable object that has belonged to a family for several generations: the violin was a family heirloom...
- She looked around the room slowly, her eyes taking in everything from the expensive paintings and family heirlooms dotted around the room, to the Oriental rug.
- Some include journal entries or family heirlooms such as recipes that have been handed down from generation to generation.
- The situation hasn't quite reached the stage where pre-bookings are handed down through the generations like family heirlooms, but getting a pitch at peak times is difficult.
1.1 [as modifier] chiefly North American Denoting a traditional variety of plant or breed of animal which is not associated with large-scale commercial agriculture: his garden is filled with heirloom vegetables free-range heirloom pork...
- There are many good reasons to incorporate more heirloom varieties into your gardening.
- He is dedicated to organic growing principles and supplying gardeners with great heirloom vegetable varieties.
- I have a friend who grows Italian heirloom vegetables as a link to his Italian ancestry.
Origin
Late Middle English: from heir + loom1 (which formerly had the senses 'tool, heirloom').