What is "cuticles"

Usage examples of "cuticles".

It stuck out awkwardly, and Marghe had to wrestle it into the slick black plastic bag: she noticed that two fingernails were broken, that Foster had chewed her cuticles, that there was a pale band of skin around the wrist where she had worn her wristcom.

The Arab tipped his head onto his shoulder and grinned apologetically at Starr, who examined his cuticles with deep interest.