[ 'hɪtʌɪt ]
■ noun
1》 a member of an ancient people who established an empire in Asia Minor and Syria c. 1700–1200 BC.
↘a member of a Canaanite or Syrian people mentioned in the Bible (11th to 8th century BC).
2》 the language of the ~s, the oldest attested Indo-European language.
■ adjective relating to the ~s, their empire, or their language.
Origin
from Heb. Ḥittīm , ult. from ~ Ḫatti .