'height-linked' originates from modern English as a compound of the noun 'height' and the past-participle form 'linked' (from the verb 'link'), used to form an adjective meaning 'linked to height'.

'height' itself comes from Old English elements related to 'high' (Old English hēah), while 'link' (verb) developed into 'linked' as the past participle in Middle/Modern English; the compound 'height-linked' is a more recent, descriptive formation in contemporary English.

Individually the parts meant 'vertical extent' ('height') and 'connected' ('linked'); combined as a compound they evolved into the adjective meaning 'connected with or determined by height'.