A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Degree
DEGREE. The word 'degree' is used to express the intervals of notes from one another on the stave. When they are on the same line or space they are in the same degree. The interval of a second is one degree, the interval of a third two degrees, and so on, irrespective of the steps being tones or semitones, so long as they represent a further line or space in the stave. Hence also notes are in the same degree when they are natural, flat, or sharp of the same note, as C and C♯, E and E♭; and they are in different degrees when, though the same note on an instrument of fixed intonation, they are called by different names, as F♯ and G♭, C and D♭♭.
[ C. H. H. P. ]