An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

Distance upward from a given level to a fixed point.

Etymology (EN): M.E., from O.E. hiehthu; → high + -th a suffix forming nouns of action (e.g., birth) or abstract nouns denoting quality or condition (depth; length; warmth).

Etymology (PE): Bolandi, bolandâ “height,” noun forms from boland “high,” variants bâlâ “up, above, high, elevated, height,” borz “height, magnitude” (it occurs also in the name of the mountain chain Alborz),
Lori dialect berg “hill, mountain;” Mid.Pers. buland “high;” O.Pers. baršan- “height;” Av. barəz- “high, mount,” barezan- “height;” cf. Skt. bhrant- “high;” L. fortis “strong” (Fr. & E. force); O.E. burg, burh “castle, fortified place,” from P.Gmc. *burgs “fortress;” Ger. Burg “castle,” Goth. baurgs “city,” E. burg, borough, Fr. bourgeois, bourgeoisie, faubourg); PIE base *bhergh- “high.”
Farâzâ, noun of farâz “above, up, upon, on the top, aloft,” from Mid.Pers. farâz, farâc “forward, prominent, distinguished;” Av. frānk- (adj.) “turned toward the front,” fraca (adv.) “forward, forth,” fraš (adv.) “forward, forth; before;” Proto-Iranian *frānk-.