"Leon" wrote in message

"C&S" wrote in message

Meaning #2: something that has been in a family for generations

Therefore, by corrolary, an heirloom but be of high quality, and have
aesthetic appeal which is able to transcend periodic trends. To me that
generally means classic design elements.


It may only have a practical usefulness or simply sentimental value.

And over time the original meaning of "heirloom" has been subverted.

Under early English law (and it still may be so), an estate was generally
handed down to the oldest son, was considered "entailed" by this custom, and
items in that estate (heirlooms) stayed with the estate from generation to
generation and could not generally be bequeathed away separately.

Tools (looms) were entailed to the estate, so for wooddorkers of early days
it paid to be the eldest son, otherwise, under law, that vintage Unisaw went
to your older brother and you were SOL.

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Last update: 12/13/05