From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008) [foldoc]:
high-level language
HLL
(HLL) A programming language which provides some level of
abstraction above assembly language. These normally use
statements consisting of English-like keywords such as "FOR",
"PRINT" or "GOTO", where each statement corresponds to several
machine language instructions. It is much easier to program
in a high-level language than in assembly language though
the efficiency of execution depends on how good the compiler
or interpreter is at optimising the program.
Rarely, the variants "VHLL" and "MLL" are found.
See also languages of choice, generation.
(1994-12-07)
From Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003) [jargon]:
HLL
/H.L.L/, n.
[High-Level Language (as opposed to assembler)] Found primarily in
email and news rather than speech. Rarely, the variants `VHLL' and
`MLL' are found. VHLL stands for `Very-High-Level Language' and is
used to describe a bondage-and-discipline language that the speaker
happens to like; Prolog and Backus's FP are often called VHLLs. `MLL'
stands for `Medium-Level Language' and is sometimes used half-jokingly
to describe C, alluding to its `structured-assembler' image. See
also languages of choice.