Clock Hands

[qapmoc]

My son asked me today why are the hands on a clock called hands when they are obviously not hands but pointers. Easy I thought, a quick google and that will be answered, HAH, every site I found has loads about the history of clocks from the first to the latest but I can't find the answer to that simple question - Anybody here know the answer ?

[dzug]

A hand IS a pointer surely? But don't know how the particular usage for clocks started.

[Lonnie]

Its a hard one for sure, apparently at one time, they were called Batons, as you say, the websites don't give a clue, but I have people making enquiries, if any find out, i'll post back.

[Ethel]

A clock has a face instead of a dial.

Hands goes very nicely with face somehow. And we use our hands as pointers.

[gazzawazza]

Why is the third hand called the second hand?

[maxximus]

does the saying hands of time predate the clock?

[jno]

don' t know that one maxximus - I've heard sands of time, which is about the hour-glass kind of clock with sands running through. My Oxford dictionary says clock hands are so called because of their resemblance to hands 'in form or position'... form in this case, I should think

[Quizmonster]

The word 'hands' has been used for the pointers on a clock-face since the 1500s. The Oxford English Dictionary refers to the 'pointer' or 'index' of a clock, the latter coming from the Latin word meaning 'to show'. That is why we have an 'index' finger...it is used to 'show' people things or 'indicate' where they are.
So, as already suggested by answers above, hands in this sense just are pointers.

[qapmoc]

OK thanks for the answers everybody.

Regards.

[cnydc]

Could it be because the watch has a "face" and therefore other parts are named from the human body?

Just a thought!

[poorclare]

The second hand is pointing out the seconds as it goes round

[poorclare]

That was to answer gazzawazza (love the name)