'non-wing-bearing' originates from Modern English, formed by the prefix 'non-' (from Latin 'non' meaning 'not') combined with the English words 'wing' and 'bearing'.

'non-' is a productive Modern English prefix derived from Latin 'non' meaning 'not'; 'wing' comes from Old English (recorded as 'wenge'/'wenge' in early sources) meaning 'wing'; 'bearing' derives from the verb 'bear' (Old English 'beran') meaning 'to carry', so the compound literally means 'not carrying wings'.

The compound has retained a literal meaning: initially and presently it means 'not having wings' or 'lacking wing-like structures'.