'high-calcium' originates from Modern English, specifically by combining the adjective 'high' and the noun 'calcium', where 'high' meant 'tall, elevated' and 'calcium' comes from New Latin 'calcium' ultimately from Latin 'calx' meaning 'lime (limestone)'.

'high' changed from Old English 'hēah' (Middle English forms such as 'hegh') and developed into the modern English word 'high'. 'calcium' was coined in New Latin in the early 19th century (from Latin 'calx') and became the modern English 'calcium' following the element's identification in the early 1800s.

Initially, the compound literally combined the senses of 'high' + 'calcium' to mean 'having a lot of calcium'; over time this literal sense has remained stable and is used particularly in nutrition and product labeling.