Bequest

n. inheritance, legacy

A bequest is the disposition of property by will. Strictly, "bequest" is used of personal property, and "devise" of real property. It means the same thing as bequeath in legal terminology.(From Old English becwethan, to declare or express in words; cf. "quoth")
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Noun
1. (law) a gift of personal property by will
(synonym) legacy
(hypernym) gift
(classification) law, jurisprudence

(v. t.)
To bequeath, or leave as a legacy.
  

(n.)
The act of bequeathing or leaving by will; as, a bequest of property by A. to B.
  

(n.)
That which is left by will, esp. personal property; a legacy; also, a gift.
  

A gift by last will or testament of personal property. A bequest is the same as a legacy.

This word is sometimes, though improperly used, as synonymous with devise. There is, however, a distinction between them. A bequest is applied, more properly, to a gift by will of a legacy, that is, of personal property; devise is properly a gift by testament of real property.
   

This entry contains material from Bouvier's Legal Dictionary, a work published in the 1850's.