swellfish

Puffer \Puff"er\, n.
   1. One who puffs; one who praises with noisy or extravagant
      commendation.
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   2. One who is employed by the owner or seller of goods sold
      at suction to bid up the price; a by-bidder. --Bouvier.
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   3. (Zool.)
      (a) Any plectognath fish which inflates its body, as the
          species of {Tetrodon} and {Diodon} of the family
          {Tetraodontidae}; -- called also {blower},
          {puff-fish}, {swellfish}, and {globefish}. They are
          highly poisonous due to the presence of glands
          containing a potent toxin, {tetrodotoxin}.
          Nevertheless they are eaten as a delicacy in Japan,
          being prepared by specially licensed chefs who remove
          the poison glands.
      (b) The common, or harbor, porpoise.
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   4. (Dyeing) A kier.
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Swellfish \Swell"fish`\, n. (Zool.)
   Any plectognath fish that dilates itself, as the bur fish,
   puffer, or diodon.
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Bur fish \Bur" fish`\ (Zool.)
   A spinose, plectognath fish of the Allantic coast of the
   United States (esp. {Chilo mycterus geometricus}) having the
   power of distending its body with water or air, so as to
   resemble a chestnut bur; -- called also {ball fish}, {balloon
   fish}, and {swellfish}.
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