An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

1a) Condition with reference to place; location; situation.

1b) A place occupied or to be occupied. → mean position.

2a) To put in a particular or appropriate position; place.

2b) To determine the position of; locate.

Etymology (EN): M.E. posicioun, from O.Fr. posicion, from L. positionem “act or fact of placing, position, affirmation,” from positus, p.p. stem of ponere “to put, place.”

Etymology (PE): Neheš, verbal noun from nehâdan “to place, put; to set;” Mid.Pers. nihâtan, from ne-, ni- “down; into,” → ni- (PIE),

• dâ- “to put; to establish; to give,” dadâiti “he gives;” cf. Skt. dadâti “he gives;” Gk. didomi “I give;” L. do “I give;” PIE base *do- “to give”).
  Neheš-dâdan, from neheš “position,” + dâdan “to give, yield, put,” → datum.