Assassin

We know the word as a synonym for a treacherous killer or murderer. Assassination has also acquired a figurative meaning as in character assassination. The word derives from the Arabic hassassin, which means hashish-eater. During the Crusades, Moslem fanatics would be sent out to kill Christians. Denied alcohol by the Koran, they would take hashish before embarking on their deadly assignments. The word assassin has been in general use since the mid-16th century and is chiefly reserved for the murderer of a public figure.