Spelling

Beatnik on 2003-10-21T16:50:15

ass·ass·in
Function: noun


Etymology: Medieval Latin assassinus, from Arabic hashshAshIn, plural of hashshAsh one who smokes or chews hashish, from hashIsh hashish
Date: circa 1520
1 capitalized : one of a secret order of Muslims that at the time of the Crusades terrorized Christians and other enemies by secret murder committed under the influence of hashish
2 : a person who commits murder; especially : one who murders a politically important person either for hire or from fanatical motives

Well, OK, it's as·sas·sin! If you insist!

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A little clarification

rafael on 2003-10-21T22:29:28

The targets of Hasan-i Sabbah, founder of the Ismaeli sect of Assassins, were the Seldjukid Turks, not the Christians (nor the Arabs). And moreover this word comes probably from the Arab word for "sectarian", not related (to my knowledge) to hashish.

Re:A little clarification

jhi on 2003-10-23T18:59:21

Some quick googlings:

• Straight Dope
• Alamut (Alamut?)
• Erowid (Some drug site, read carefully depending on your jurisdiction :-)