'non-parrot-like' is a modern compound formed from the negative prefix 'non-' + 'parrot' + the adjective-forming suffix '-like'. 'non-' comes from Latin 'non' meaning 'not'; 'parrot' comes via Middle French 'perroquet'; '-like' comes from Old English '-l61c'/'-l69c' meaning 'having the form of'.

'parrot' entered English from Middle French 'perroquet' (16th century) and ultimately from Romance usage; '-like' descends from Old English '-l69c'; the prefix 'non-' is a borrowing of Latin 'non' used in English compounding since late medieval/early modern periods. These elements combined in modern English to form compounds such as 'non-parrot-like' when a negated resemblance is needed.

The components have retained their basic senses: 'non-' = 'not', 'parrot' = the bird associated with mimicry, and '-like' = 'resembling'. The compound therefore originally and still means 'not resembling a parrot' and is used both literally and figuratively to mean 'not imitative' or 'not merely repeating.'