Degrees of Frost

[jennyberki]

Noticed that in some old books, a cold spell is referred to as so many "degrees of frost". What does this mean - is it degrees Fahrenheit below freezing? So 20 degrees of frost would be a temperature of (32 - 20) = 12 degrees Fahrenheit?

[davehsug]

Noticed that in some old books, a cold spell is referred to as so many "degrees of frost". What does this mean - is it degrees Fahrenheit below freezing? So 20 degrees of frost would be a temperature of (32 - 20) = 12 degrees Fahrenheit?

Yep, that's about it Jenny. Mostly only used by Americans these days, as they're about the only people still using Farenheit.

Dave

[jennyberki]

Thanks Davehsug.

I like the term - it sounds a lot more impressive than "minus three" or whatever! I read an article about Lake Windermere freezing over in the late 19th century and it was used in there.