The phrase "small inheritance" refers to a small amount of money or property that someone receives after a family member or relative passes away. Full definition
It was an awesome estate tool, allowing parents and grandparents to convert multiple smaller policies from their term policy for different uses such as charitable giving life insurance or smaller inheritance policies. (hinermangroup.com)
So he took a «small inheritance from my grandfather, bought an apartment in San Francisco, and tried to make a go of it.» (fortune.com)
A good deal of RE income and some dumb luck (and significant) capital gains on a few properties combined with a small inheritance helped quite a bit. (retireby40.org)