Query re russian usage

[Loren Allen Billings]

The native speaking Russian I consulted about this last correction--that
_stal zakurivat'_ only means 'was rolling a smoke'--says that this is NOT
correct.  It can, to this person, only mean 'was (in the process of)
lighting up (a cigarette, _papiros_, or cigar)'.

I learned something new from this exercise:  _papiros_ CAN mean both the
manufactured cigarette-like sticks that consist mostly of cardboard tube
(common brand name:  _Belomor_) AND roll-your-own tobacco cigarettes.

The reason I checked with my "informant" was that I thought it was
impossible to roll one's own _papirosy_.  Now I know this other meaning
of the term this definition is plausible, but not accepted nonetheless.

Anyone else agree or disagree with the interpretation of 'was rolling'?

--Loren Billings (billings at princeton.edu)