Assassin, Assassinate and
Assassination
- PostEagle
- December 29, 2017
- Word Etymology
- 0 Comments
Today’s words are ASSASSIN, ASSASSINATE and ASSASSINATION which come from the word – HASHASHIN – meaning – HASHISH DRINKERS.
This is an Arabic word and the story centers on a tribe in the Near East which was entrusted with the killing of various leaders. A popular drink in Persia and Syria was a tea made from hashish or marijuana. On the night before they were to kill a tribal leader these men shared a pot of tea brewed with hashish and discussed the details of their project. The tea elevated their emotions, created an enthusiasm, and made them high. Since the strong hashish tea dulled their aversion but increased their sanguinity, it soon became the drink of the day. They were known as the HASHASHINS. Gradually, reporters changed the spelling.
Today the word – ASSASSINATE – means – TO MURDER A POLITICAL LEADER.