tetrodotoxin

tetrodotoxin
    n 1: a powerful neurotoxin found in the ovaries of pufferfish
    

Puffer \Puff"er\, n.
   1. One who puffs; one who praises with noisy or extravagant
      commendation.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. One who is employed by the owner or seller of goods sold
      at suction to bid up the price; a by-bidder. --Bouvier.
      [1913 Webster]

   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.
          [1913 Webster]

   4. (Dyeing) A kier.
      [1913 Webster]
    

Toxin \Tox"in\, Toxine \Tox"ine\, n. [Gr. toxiko`n. See {Toxic}.
   ]
   A poisonous product formed by an organism, such as a
   pathogenic bacterium, a plant or an animal, usually having a
   high molecular weight, often a protein or a polysaccharide,
   but occasionally a low-molecular weight agent such as
   {tetrodotoxin}.
    

blowfish \blow"fish\ n.
   1. a fish eaten as a delicacy, especially in Japan. It is
      highly dangerous because of a potent nerve poison
      (tetrodotoxin) in its ovaries and liver. Chefs require
      special training to learn how to remove the poisonous
      parts, and in Japan they must be licensed.

   Note: In Japan it is called {fugu}. Deaths due to ingestion
         of the meat of this fish occur almost every year.

   Syn: sea squab, puffer, puffer fish.
        [WordNet 1.5 +PJC]

   2. any of numerous marine fishes of the family
      {Tetraodontidae} whose elongated spiny body can inflate
      itself with water or air to form a globe; several species
      contain {tetrodotoxin}, a potent nerve poison; they are
      closely related to spiny puffers.

   Syn: puffer, globefish.
        [WordNet 1.5 +PJC]