'nonpeptic' originates from Latin and Greek, specifically the prefix 'non' from Latin meaning 'not' and the Greek word 'peptikos' (from 'peptein') where 'peptein' meant 'to digest'.

'nonpeptic' was formed in modern English by combining the Latin negative prefix 'non-' with 'peptic' (from Greek 'peptikos'), producing a literal compound meaning 'not peptic'.

Initially, it meant 'not peptic' (literally 'not relating to pepsin/digestion'); over time it has retained this specialized medical sense referring to lesions or conditions not caused by pepsin or gastric acid.