'improperly-positioned' originates from the combination of 'improperly' and 'positioned'. 'Improperly' comes from the Latin 'improprius', meaning 'not proper', and 'positioned' is derived from the Latin 'positio', meaning 'placement'.

'Improperly-positioned' evolved from the combination of the words 'improperly' and 'positioned', which were used separately in Middle English and later combined in modern English.

Initially, it meant 'not properly placed', and this meaning has remained consistent in modern usage.