'high-usage' is a compound of 'high' and 'usage'; 'high' originates from Old English 'hēah' where 'hēah' meant 'tall, lofty', and 'usage' originates from Old French 'usage', ultimately from Latin 'usus' (from 'uti') meaning 'use'.

'high' comes from Old English 'hēah' and entered modern English via Middle English; 'usage' came into English from Old French 'usage' (from Latin 'usus'), and the modern compound 'high-usage' was formed in modern English by combining these elements.

Initially, 'high' meant 'tall/lofty' and 'usage' meant 'use'; over time the compound came to mean 'characterized by a high rate or amount of use' rather than any sense of physical height.