third degree

Significat (anglès)

Intensive rough interrogation in order to extract information or a confession

Sinònims

rack

torture

Etimologia (anglès)

Attested from 1900. The phrase, meaning "intense interrogation by police," likely refers to the Third Degree of Master Mason in Freemasonry, the ceremony for which included an interrogation. Alternatively, it reflects the practice of interrogation under torture, where three degrees of torture were recognised, of increasing intensity. In other contexts, three degrees of interrogation were recognised, with torture being the third degree.

Sents

Give them a little third degree .