Why the term "Aerodrome"?

The term "Aerodrome" conjures up a mental picture of Spitfires, Signal lamps, and Morse Code, rather than today's modern, high-tech. dependent, aviation industry. Wouldn't "Airport" be more appropriate?

Not really. 

An "Airport" is not defined in either the "Air Navigation Order" nor in Civil Aviation Publication CAP 168 "Licensing of Aerodromes", but is considered by the CAA's Aerodrome Standards Department to encompass merely the Customs and Excise facilities.  An industry definition of the term "Airfield" is not easily established either, but is considered to equate to what the CAA now refer to as the "Movement Area" on an aerodrome.

However, there are significant CAA publications, for example CAP 168 and the "Air Navigation Order", in which the term "Aerodrome" defines an area set aside for the landing and departing of aircraft.