E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Barefaced.
Audacious, shameless, impudent. This seems to imply that social and good manners require concealment, or, at any rate, to veil the face with “white lies.” In Latin—retecta facie; in French—à visage découvert. Cassius says to his friend Brutus, “If I have veiled my looks …,” that is, concealed my thoughts from you.
