legacy
n. countablen. something that is handed down from the past, like money, property, or even a reputation. It can also describe old computer systems that are still being used.
n. an amount of money or property left to someone in a will; more broadly, anything handed down from an ancestor or predecessor. In technical contexts, it refers to outdated software or hardware that remains in use because it is difficult to replace.
The old building is a legacy of the city's rich history.
The new CEO struggled to modernize the bank because of its complicated legacy software systems.
While the artist left a significant financial legacy to her children, her true impact was the cultural legacy she established through her pioneering work in abstract sculpture.
From Middle English legacie, from Old French legacie and Medieval Latin lēgātia, from Latin lēgātum.
Often used as a noun adjunct to modify other nouns, such as 'legacy system' or 'legacy code'.