'non-' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'non', where 'non' meant 'not'. 'vineyard' is a compound of 'vine' (from Latin 'vinea' meaning 'vine' or 'vineyard') and 'yard' (from Old English 'geard' meaning 'enclosure').

'vineyard' came into English as a compound combining 'vine' + 'yard' (Old English/Old French influences) and developed into Middle English forms before becoming modern 'vineyard'. The prefix 'non-' was applied in English by combining the Latin-derived negative 'non-' with nouns and adjectives to form compounds like 'non-vineyard'.

Initially, the components referred specifically to a 'vine enclosure' and a Latin negative meant 'not'; combined in modern usage the compound simply means 'not a vineyard' with little lexical change beyond compounding.