1. a valuable object that has belonged to a family for several generations: "the violin was a family heirloom"
▪ 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"
Word Originlate Middle English: from heir + loom1 (which formerly had the senses ‘tool, heirloom’).
Is some historical object which usually also has some religious meaning
In popular usage, an heirloom is something that has been passed down for generations through family members. Examples are a family bible, antiques, weapons or jewellery. Wikipedia