'nonportable' originates from the English negative prefix 'non-' (from Latin 'non') combined with 'portable,' which ultimately comes from Latin 'portabilis' (from 'portare', meaning 'to carry').

'portable' comes from Latin 'portare' -> Late Latin 'portabilis' -> Old French 'portable' -> Middle English 'portable', and the English prefix 'non-' (from Latin 'non') has been used in English compounds since Middle English; the modern compound 'nonportable' is formed in English by prefixation.

Initially, 'portable' meant 'able to be carried,' and 'nonportable' has meant 'not able to be carried'; this basic negated meaning has remained consistent in modern usage.