'non-venomous' originates from the prefix 'non-' meaning 'not' and 'venomous' from Latin 'venenosus', where 'venenum' meant 'poison'.

'venenosus' transformed into the Old French word 'venimeux', and eventually became the modern English word 'venomous'. The prefix 'non-' was added to indicate the absence of venom.

Initially, 'venomous' meant 'full of poison', and 'non-venomous' has consistently meant 'not full of poison'.