Page "Metric time" Paragraph 1

Although part of the decimal metric system, the second derives its name from the sexagesimal system, which originated with the Sumerians and Babylonians, and divides a base unit into sixty minutes, minutes into sixty seconds, seconds into sixty thirds, etc.

The word " minute " comes from the Latin pars minuta prima, meaning first small part, and " second " from pars minuta secunda or second small part.

In angular measure, it is the degree that is subdivided into minutes and seconds, while in time, it is the hour.