yarn count; thread count number
Technical textile term for the count or number expressing yarn thickness; the exact scale depends on the yarn-count system.
In general, the higher the yarn count, the finer the yarn becomes.
nth place; nth position; nth in the order
Suffix-like use after a number, especially for a competitor's place in a race or a person's position in an order or lineup.
Early on, he settled into third place, a little behind the leader.
In the relay order, she is the fourth runner.
nth rank in a battle formation; nth line of troops
Military use, especially in descriptions of battle order, for a numbered rank or unit in a formation.
In military chronicles of the Warring States period, the unit following the vanguard is sometimes written as the second rank.
castle guard
Historical noun for a guard or guard duty connected with a castle; not a common everyday modern use.
An Edo-period record notes the shift times of the castle guards who watched the gate.
second-place horse; horse running just behind the leader
Horse-racing term for the horse in second position, especially the one tracking the leader.
The horse in second place passed the front-runner in the stretch.
He's second in line among the team's ace candidates.
In that race, the horse tracked in second position and pulled away at the end.
She has moved up in the rankings this season.
This season, he's pitching as the second starter in the rotation.
着順 refers to the final finishing order of a race, whereas 番手 can describe an in-race position before the finish and, in horse racing, specifically the horse running second.
番 is a broad word covering number, turn, watch, or duty, while 番手 is the narrower term for a counted position, guard duty, or yarn thickness.
Formed from 番, associated with order, turn, or watch duty, plus 手, which can refer to a person, side, or position. The specialized meanings, such as yarn count and horse-racing position, are conventional uses rather than transparent literal meanings.