hashish

Where does the word "hashish" come from? It comes from Arabic hashish, and was adopted directly into English (1500s).

Hashish’s story begins in Arabic: hashish meant “grass, herb.” Literally grass or herb, applied to the resin of the cannabis plant. It reached English by 1500s as hashish. The medieval 'Assassins' sect is said to have been named from 'hashishin', hashish users. Today, hashish means a drug made from the resin of the cannabis plant.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval hashish "grass, herb", literally grass or herb, applied to the resin of the cannabis plant.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1500s hashish "a resin extracted from cannabis", the medieval 'Assassins' sect is said to have been named from 'hashishin', hashish users.