Lexical Definition

‎בָּבָה‎ bâbâh (baw-baw') apple ^H:N-F
feminine active participle of an unused root meaning to hollow out

apple (of the eye).

• something hollowed (as a gate), i.e. pupil of the eye

1) the apple (pupil) of the eye

Brown-Driver-Briggs

[‎בָּבָה‎] noun feminine only ‎בָּבַת עֵינוֺ‎ Zech 2:12* the apple of his eye (Aramaic ; ‎בָּבָא‎ gate ᵑ7 Esth 5:14 Thes below ‎נבב‎ to which Ges gives sense perforate, hence opening of eye; but compare Arabic pupil of eye, perhaps = Dozy⁴⁹ babe, baby, bébé (imitating infant's prattle) i.e. child of the eye; see Hi St, Fl in ChWB^{i. 419 b}; compare ‎אישׁוֺן‎ ?).

Brown-Driver-Briggs References