The short hand on a clock or watch; normally the hour hand. Contrasts with the long (minute) hand.
短針が12を指しているので、ちょうど12時だ。
The short hand is pointing at 12, so it's exactly 12 o'clock.
時計の短針と長針を合わせて時間を確認した。
I checked the time by looking at both the short hand and the long hand of the clock.
腕時計の短針が止まっていたので電池を替えた。
The watch's hour hand had stopped, so I changed the battery.