'non-ghostly' originates from Modern English, formed by the negation prefix 'non-' (ultimately from Latin 'non', meaning 'not') attached to the adjective 'ghostly'.

'ghostly' changed from Old English word 'gastlic' (from 'gast' meaning 'spirit' + suffix '-lic' meaning 'like') and eventually became the modern English word 'ghostly'. The prefix 'non-' was borrowed into English from Latin and later used productively in Modern English compounds to negate adjectives.

Initially, elements meant 'not spirit-like' (via 'gastlic' → 'ghostly'), but when combined as 'non-ghostly' the meaning evolved into the current descriptive sense of 'not supernatural' or simply 'ordinary'.