[PzLdr]

It comes from an Arab word for hashish, a drug used by the sect to "inspire" its "suicide knifers" during their training.

I disagree with the author's contention that the Assassins were the first terrorist group of their kind. I would give that dubious distinction to the Sacchariae- the Jewish Zealots. They also used the knife, tried to replace the Roman influenced and ruled area called Judea, and like the Assassins managed to bring down the preeminent military power of their time (in their case the Roman legions, in the Assassins' case, the Mongol tumans) on their heads, with results they didn't enjoy.