Smith's Bible Dictionary (1863)
With regard to the use of the veil, it is important to observe that it was by no means so general in ancient as in modern times. Much of the scrupulousness in respect of the use of the veil dates from the promulgation of the Koran, which forbade women appearing unveiled except in the presence of their nearest relatives. In ancient times the veil was adopted only in exceptional cases, either as an article of ornamental dress, (Song of Solomon
4:1,3; 6:7) or by betrothed maidens in the presence of their future husbands, especially at the time of the wedding, (Genesis 24:65) or lastly, by women of loose character for purposes of concealment. (Genesis 38:14) Among the Jews of the New Testament age it appears to have been customary for the women to cover their heads (not necessarily their faces) when engaged in public worship.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible (1898)
VEIL is, in our translation, the rendering of several Hebrew words which properly mean shawls or mantles. Gen 24:65; Gen 38:14; Ruth 3:15; Song 5:7; Isa 3:23. These shawls or mantles may occasionally have been drawn over the face, but they were not designed for that purpose. Veils proper were used by the Hebrew women only on special occasions - as ornaments. Song 4:1, Num 1:3; Song 6:7; as a bridal-symbol, Gen 24:65; Jer 29:25; and for the
purpose of concealment. Gen 38:14. Generally the Hebrew women appeared in public without veils. Gen 12:14; 2 Chr 24:16; Gen 29:10; 1 Sam 1:12, and so did the Egyptian and Assyrian women, as seen by the Egyptian and Assyrian sculptures and paintings. The custom now almost universal among Oriental women to be veiled whenever they appear in public dates from the Koran, 33:55, 59, which forbids the Mohammedan women to show themselves unveiled outside
of the circle of their nearest relatives.