Why is the third hand on the watch called a second hand?

Question

It's the 3rd because it's not on some clocks at all. They add it, so it's the 3rd. Dammit.

Answer 1

LOL! Is you want to call it the third hand, it's OK with us!

Answer 2

Because second has two(or more) meanings, duh...The one you were talking about is like 2nd (1st, 3rd,5th, etc.) the number. The
"third" hand on the watch is called "second" hand because this second means a unit of time. The second hand is the one that ticks all the seconds in place. Get it? I think so.

Answer 3

Great question and you've already got some intriguing answers!
I have never heard 'the second hand' referred to as a 'third hand'....I think most children I know, call the hands: big, little and second!!

Answer 4

Who says that it's the third hand? Why can't it be the second hand and one of the other hands be the third one? Who ranks these hands anyway? In fact aren't they the big hand and the little hand? Shouldn't the second hand then be the medium hand?

Answer 5

how do you know it's the third hand and not the first hand? or how do you know it's not actually the second hand that happens to count seconds? or how do you know that they are called seconds BECAUSE they are counted by the second hand? very intriguing indeed

Answer 6

Whose to say it is the third hand, maybe the minute hand is really the second hand, just called the minute hand,,,food for thought!!

Answer 7

OHHHHHHHhhhh come on now slick, think it's the SECOND hand. It ticks away the seconds once around the ol' clock is 60 SECONDS!! Got it??

Answer 8

Counts the "Seconds"

Answer 9

Because it measures seconds!

Answer 10

Because it measures seconds.