Heirloom

Heirloom (compounded of heir and loom, originally a 'piece of property,' 'furniture'), in English law, means a chattel, or movable thing, which goes to the heir-at-law by special custom. But the right is obscure. The word is more frequently used now to designate chattels bequeathed or settled so as to be enjoyed by the person for the time being in possession of a family estate or mansion. In Scotland a somewhat similar but by no means identical phrase is used—viz. heirship movables, which is a wider right, and includes the best articles of furniture in the house of a person who left heritable property. The extent of this right is also not clearly settled.