Words Origin CategoryMilitary & Warfare

The Etymology of “Redoubt”: The Fascinating Story Behind This Word

August 18, 2026 | | Bella Sungkawa

The word “redoubt” comes from 16th‑century French redoute, itself borrowed from Italian ridotto, meaning “a place of retreat.” Both trace back to Latin reductus, the past participle of reducere “to draw back.” It entered English in the early modern period to describe a small, often temporary, fortified position.

Where Does “Assassin” Come From? The Medieval Sect That Changed Political Violence Forever

June 22, 2026 | | Bella Sungkawa

“Assassin” comes from the Arabic hashshashin — the plural of hashshash (hashish user) — a name applied to members of the Nizari Ismaili sect of medieval Islam, whose fighters were feared for targeted political killings. The name was recorded by Crusaders and travelers including Marco Polo, who associated the sect with the drug. The Arabic plural became the medieval Latin assassinus and entered European languages through Italian and French.