'heavy-built' originates from the combination of 'heavy' and 'built', where 'heavy' meant 'having great weight' and 'built' referred to 'constructed or formed'.

'heavy-built' evolved from the Old English word 'hefig' meaning 'heavy' and the Middle English 'bilden' meaning 'to build', eventually forming the modern English term 'heavy-built'.

Initially, it meant 'constructed with great weight', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'having a large, solid body structure'.