afternoon tea

Definitions

1. 1

   A formal afternoon meal comprising light snacks, accompanied by tea.

   • Afternoon tea remains at its present price of 4s, but the prices of all other main meals have risen by 1s. Thus a full breakfast now costs 10s, lunch 13s 6d and dinner 14s 6d or 16s 6d according to train.
   • As with luncheon, afternoon tea was often a women's gathering for reasons that take us back to the reign of Charles II.
2. 2

   A small meal or snack eaten between lunch and dinner (supper)

   A small meal or snack eaten between lunch and dinner (supper); a period of time set aside for this purpose, taken as a break from work or from a conference.

   • After afternoon tea we all combine again for a plenary session, followed by the UniForum NZ AGM.
   • In looking at meal structures, Douglas (1972) made a clear distinction between the afternoon tea which is a snack and the high tea which is classified as a light meal.

The neighborhood