'non-yellow' is formed from the prefix 'non-' (meaning 'not') combined with the adjective 'yellow'. The prefix 'non-' ultimately comes from Latin 'non' meaning 'not', and 'yellow' is the modern English color word.

'yellow' comes from Old English 'geolu/ġeolu' (also Middle English 'yelwe'), which developed into the modern English 'yellow'; the compound 'non-yellow' is a modern formation created by adding the negative prefix 'non-' to 'yellow'.

Initially, 'yellow' referred to the color (from Old English); the combined form 'non-yellow' has consistently meant 'not yellow' and has not undergone a major shift in meaning.