Fahrenheit
Definition: The Fahrenheit (symbol: °F) is a unit of temperature that was widely used prior to metrication. It is currently defined by two fixed points: the temperature at which water freezes, 32°F, and the boiling point of water, 212°F.
History & Origin: The Fahrenheit scale was developed based on a measurement proposed in 1724 by the German physicist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit. He initially based the scale on an equal ice-salt mixture, selecting the values of 30°F for the freezing point of water.
Current Use: Until the 1960s the Fahrenheit scale was the primary scale used in English-speaking countries. Today, the Fahrenheit scale is still used as the official temperature scale in a number of countries, including the United States, the Bahamas, and Belize.