'non-operational' originates from the prefix 'non-' meaning 'not' and the word 'operational' which comes from 'operation', derived from Latin 'operatio', meaning 'work' or 'activity'.

'operatio' transformed into the Old French word 'operacion', and eventually became the modern English word 'operation', leading to 'operational'. The prefix 'non-' was added to form 'non-operational'.

Initially, 'operatio' meant 'work' or 'activity', but over time, 'operational' evolved to mean 'functioning or in use', and 'non-operational' to mean 'not functioning'.