Scientists say "code" because "machine code" is a bit of a mouthful. They say "machine" because their computers used to be people, and an interrupt meant running excitedly into Sir George Everest's tent. If entrepreneurs had invented the machines, we'd call them "electronic clerks".

When the manual is titled "Theoria combinationis observationum erroribus minimis obnoxiae", you know you're dealing with legacy code. In that case it's a pretty cool legacy, though.