throwback
UK: /ˈθrəʊbæk/ | US: /ˈθroʊbæk/
n. 1. A reversion to an earlier ancestral characteristic or style.
n. 2. A person or thing that evokes nostalgia or resembles something from the past.
n. 3. (Biology) The reappearance of a trait after several generations of absence.
The word "throwback" combines "throw" (from Old English þrawan, meaning "to twist or propel") and "back" (from Old English bæc, meaning "returning to a prior state"). Originally used in hunting (19th century) to describe animals reverting to wild traits, it later broadened to cultural and biological contexts. The logic reflects physical "throwing" (sudden reversion) + "back" (temporal return).
The vintage fashion trend is a throwback to the 1980s.
His blue eyes are a genetic throwback to his great-grandmother.
The film’s soundtrack is a nostalgic throwback to classic jazz.
Some consider his conservative views a political throwback.
The species’ stripes are an evolutionary throwback.