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You are here: Home / Language / Where did the Expression “the Third Degree” Come From and What Does it Mean?

Where did the Expression “the Third Degree” Come From and What Does it Mean?

June 19, 2020 by Karen Hill

The third degree is a very difficult and sometimes brutal questioning, especially by police.

In fact, without its sinister connotation, the expression comes from the Masonic Lodge and its three degrees of membership, each requiring an increasingly difficult examination.

The first is Entered Apprentice, the second is Fellowcraft, and the third degree, the one most difficult to pass, is Master Mason.

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Filed Under: Language

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

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