Fingernail rimmed and between courses.

[Quang Hai]

Hello everyone, In a description of a smoker fingernail in a W. Trevor story, I found this sentence

'His fingernails were rimmed: ash from the cigarettes he was smoking, as he always does, between courses'

What is meaning of underlined words, please someone kindly help me out. Thanks

 

[Route21]

As an NES but not a teacher:

I'm not sure about the "rimmed ash" - maybe "rimmed with cigarette ash", but "between courses" would refer to between courses of a meal (appetiser, main course and dessert).

Regards
R21

 

[BobK]

:up: This refers to a bit of etiquette that may not apply in all cultures. Traditionally (until about the middle of last century, and only in households of the higher classes), smokinq was not allowed between courses - until the cheese and port arrived. Then the women were dismissed to the [with]drawing room and the men were allowed to smoke. Not smoking between courses is a last vestige of this ritual.

b