I have recenetly seen someone on TV explaining where the word assassin comes from but cannot remember who it was talking. Please remind me !!

[missesbell]

[Mr Veritas]

It comes from the Middle/Far East.
Many centuries ago there were warriors/bandits/brigands who "got high" on pot,or more accurately Hashih.
They were known (then) as Hasishins,which became corrupted to Assassins.
Wikipedia explains better:~

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hashshashin

[karenmac60]

It was Eddie Izzard on Jonathan Ross and he was saying they were given hashish before killing their targets and so were known as hashashins - still don't know if I believe him, but I think that's more because he's Eddie Izzard :)