muffin-face, n. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

muffin-face n.

[supposed resemblance; F&H claim that 1777 cit. sense 1 Isaac Jackman, All the World’s a Stage; ‘Mister Charles, who is that gentleman? Has he a muffin-face?’ means hairless, OED that it means expressionless; however, 1877 Laughing Songster cit. in sense 2 suggests foolish or childish, which might be the more correct definition, linking with the 1837 cit. at muffin-faced sense 1; note also 1823 John Bee cit. at muffin-faced sense 2, which suggests it refers to protruding muscles]

1. a hairless (or expressionless) face.

1777

I. Jackman All the World’s a Stage I i: Master Charles, who is that gentleman? Has he a muffin-face?

2. a foolish or childish face.

1873		Sl. Dict. 231: Muffin-face a white, soft, delicate, or whiskerless face.
1874		(ref. to 1812) Sheffield Dly Teleg. 22 Oct. 8/3: In September 1812 he writes [...] ‘I defy him to extort — that muffin-face of his into madness’.
1877		‘Mister Barney’ in Laughing Songster 127: You’ve been with the girls, / Your muffin face tells [...] You’ve been with the girls, / Your baby-face tells.
1886		Reynold’s Newspaper (London) 12 Dec. 2/2: ’Ullo [...] I’ve seen that muffin-face before.

In derivatives

muffin-faced (adj.)

1. having a fat face or a face with protruding muscles.

1823

‘Jon Bee’ Dict. of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, etc. 122: Muffin-faced — one who has large protruding muscles on his phiz, which is pale withal.

2. having a foolish or expressionless face.

1837		Rev. Sydney Smith Letter to Archd. Singleton in Works (1859) 402/1: His little muffin-faced son .
1846		Cork Examiner 19 Oct. 3/5: The muffin-faced Nemours.
1851		Falkirk Herald 9 Oct. 1/7: Who do you call a nuisance, you muffin-faced blue bottle?
1861		Western Times 28 Sept. 3/3: The pallid muffin-faced genius who is all promise and precocity.
1872		Tamworth Herald 2 Nov. 3/5: A Lady need not be muffin-faced although she be toasted.
1878		Dundee Courier 16 Oct. 3/5: Her stirrup was held by a muffin-faced boy in knickerbockers.