third-degree

¹ American  

[thurd-di-gree] / ˈθɜrd dɪˈgri /

verb (used with object)

third-degreed, third-degreeing

1. to subject to the third degree.

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adjective

1. of or relating to the third degree.

third degree ² American  

noun

1. intensive questioning or rough treatment, especially by the police, in order to get information or a confession.

2. the degree of master mason in Freemasonry.

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third degree British  

noun

1. informal torture or bullying, esp used to extort confessions or information

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third degree Idioms  

1. Intensive questioning or rough treatment used to obtain information or a confession, as in The detectives gave her the third degree, or Jim gave her the third degree when she came home so late. This term comes from freemasonry, where a candidate receives the third or highest degree, that of master mason, upon passing an intensive test. Dating from the 1770s, the phrase was transferred to other kinds of interrogation in the late 1800s.

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Etymology

Origin of third-degree¹

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900

Origin of third degree¹

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

Mr. Chacko was arrested, and is now being charged with grand larceny in the third degree and criminal possession of stolen property in the third degree, both felonies.

From Washington Times

Calixto Cabrera, 57, is accused of sex abuse of a minor, sex abuse in the second degree, and sex abuse in the third degree.

From Washington Times

Police recommended charging Beskar with a felony of criminal sexual conduct in the third degree, records show.

From Washington Post

“It doesn’t take much time to get a full thickness or third degree burn when exposed to hot pavement,” Foster said in a press briefing Thursday.

From Seattle Times

The 23-year-old suffered second and third degree burns across her body.

From BBC