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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