'nonfeline' originates from Modern English compounding of the prefix 'non-' and the adjective 'feline'; 'non-' ultimately derives from Latin, specifically the word 'non', where 'non' meant 'not', and 'feline' comes from Latin 'felinus' (from 'felis'), where 'felis' meant 'cat'.

'feline' entered English from Latin 'felinus' (via Old French or Medieval Latin influences) and was adopted into Middle English as 'feline'; the modern compound 'nonfeline' is a straightforward negation formed by adding the productive English prefix 'non-' to 'feline'.

Initially the elements meant 'not' (for 'non-') and 'cat' (for 'feline'); the compound has consistently carried the literal sense 'not cat/not catlike' and retains that meaning in modern usage.