古英語のhefig「硬い、重い」から。語源はPIE*kap「つかむ、つかむ」。
While we undervalue the nicely-balanced weight of broadsides which have lately been brought forward with all the grave precision of Cocker, we are well aware of the decided advantages of heavy metal. ["United Services Journal," London, 1830]As a type of rock music, from 1972.