It is short for Degree. Don't let any newbies or anyone else tell you anything different. That is the answer straight from DE, years ago. This topic has been asked many times and debated widely, despite DE saying it himself on this very board some time ago.......
thnx homie for not being a dicc about it, i was exspecting some 17 year old kid tryin to tell me whats what like he know somthin, thats what i thought but never knew for sure , props homie