'psychical' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'psūkhē' (ψυχή), where the root meant 'soul' or 'breath'; it passed into Late Latin/New Latin as 'psychicus' and into French as 'psychique' before adoption into English.

'psychical' changed from the New Latin 'psychicus' and French 'psychique' and eventually became the modern English word 'psychical' (coined/used in the 19th century, often in contexts of mental or paranormal study).

Initially, it meant 'pertaining to the soul or mind', but over time it evolved into its current meanings of 'relating to mental processes' and also 'relating to paranormal phenomena'.