'assassination' originates from the Arabic word 'hashshashin', referring to a group of Nizari Ismailis who were known for their targeted killings.

'hashshashin' transformed into the medieval Latin word 'assassinus', and eventually became the modern English word 'assassin', from which 'assassination' is derived.

Initially, it referred to the act of killing by the 'hashshashin', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of any deliberate killing of a prominent person.