Aug 8, 2012

Third Degree

To get the third degree means to be thoroughly questioned. The third degree of something has been regarded as the upper limit, or extreme since before the the time of Shakespeare when he wrote, “For he’s in the thirde degree of drinke, he’s drown’d.” He was referring to a very drunk man. It is a natural progression when referring to the most extreme type of questioning, it would be referred to as the third degree. It has come to also mean inflicting of pain, physical or mental, to extract confessions or statements.

In Masonic Lodges there is also the rituals involved before reaching the third, or highest level, which includes intense questioning.